March 15, 2014

FISHERS, Ind. - The Trine University softball team lived up to its #16 national ranking when the Thunder swept a doubleheader with Bluffton University at Fishers High School on Saturday, March 15, 2014. Bluffton slipped to 8-4 on the season, while Trine improved to 10-1 following a pair of convincing victories.

A SHELBY ERFORD (Paulding) infield single in the first and a KATIE MUSGRAVE (Doylestown/Chippewa) base hit to center in the fifth were the only safeties Bluffton could muster in game one as the Thunder rolled to an 11-0 five-inning shutout.

Trine junior Bree Fuller fanned 10 Beavers while improving to 5-1 on the season. Junior EMILY KOLEZYNSKI (Strongsville) took the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits in three innings of work.

A seven-run first for the Thunder erased a 1-0 Bluffton lead and put Trine on course to complete the Saturday sweep. JESS KUZARA (Flat Rock, Mich./Huron) put the Beavers up 1-0 with a bomb to right center in the top of the first before Trine did its damage in the home half. Two doubles and a triple to kick off the bottom half set the table for HALEIGH DANIELS who capped the binge with a three-run shot to left.

Kuzara doubled home Erford in the third inning before two more Bluffton tallies in the fourth made the score 8-4 as Emily Kolezynski kept the Thunder at bay during frames three and four. MARISSA WILSON (Farmersville/Valley View) knocked in Musgrave before CHELSEA WEITZ'S (Dayton/Carroll) squeeze bunt sent JO BONDRA (Highland Heights/Mayfield) scurrying home.

The home team on the scoreboard loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth and after All-American Carly Searles popped up, Kaitlyn Clark ended it with a walkoff grand slam for a 12-4 mercy-rule victory.

Kuzara went 2-of-3 with a home run, a double and two RBI. KAYLA OWENS (Cincinnati/McAuley) was saddled with the loss after surrendering seven runs on six hits in one inning of work.

The Beavers are slated to host Alma College on Tuesday, March 18. Game one with Coach Bruder's alma mater is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

-BEAVERS-