Box Score Junior Leah Hall hit a grand slam and junior pitcher Bree Fuller tossed five strong innings Saturday afternoon in leading the Trine University softball team to the NCAA Atlanta Super Regional Championship. The Thunder captured the two-of-three series and raised their overall record to 43-4 following a 6-2 triumph over the Eagles who closed out the year with a won-lost slate of 39-9. Trine had won the Super Regional opener on Friday by a 6-5 margin in 10 innings.
The Thunder jumped on the Eagles with a five-run first inning that was highlighted by Hall's one-out prolific blast to center, her fifth round tripper of the season, that put the visitors up by a 4-0 count. After the next Trine batter was retired, freshman Catherine Porter socked her fifth homer of the year to account for the final run of the frame. The Eagles got one run back in their half of the second when sophomore Melody Carter hit a one-out solo home run, her second of the season. Neither team scored again until the bottom of the sixth when Emory senior Megan Light hit what proved to be her final round tripper as an Eagle, her 19th of the campaign and 47th of her career, to draw Emory to within 5-2. The Thunder crossed the plate once in the top of the seventh as result of a ground out by Rachel Harris that scored Carly Searles.
Fuller picked up the win for Trine, boosting her record to 24-2, allowing five hits and both Eagle runs during her five-inning appearance. Fuller was chosen as the Super Regional's Outstanding Pitcher. Sophomore Justine Robles hurled two scoreless innings of relief to earn her first save of the year. Hall was chosen as the Most Outstanding Player.
Kardys took the loss, just her third in 30 decisions. Freshman Brittany File came on in relief and turned in a strong effort, going six innings and surrendering just one run and two hits while striking out five.
The loss closed out the careers of Emory seniors Lauren Gorodetsky, Claire Bailey, Ally Kersthold, Kardys and Light with the group combining for a 156-23-1 record during their stints as Eagles.
Trine now advances to the NCAA D-III Championships next week in Tyler, Texas.
