The Alma College Softball team traveled to Trine University on Sunday afternoon for a doubleheader between the two MIAA preseason favorites. The Thunder took both games by scores of 2-1 and 8-1 to improve to 6-0 in the MIAA and 23-3 overall, while Alma is now 8-2 in the league and 18-8 for the 2013 season.

Game one was a typical thriller between the two teams as the Thunder scored single runs in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings to earn a come from behind 2-1 victory.

The Scots had taken a 1-0 advantage in the top of the fourth as So. C Cori Witham (N. Muskegon, Mich./N. Muskegon) led off with a single. Jr. PR Allie Jo Nave (Onaway, Mich./Onaway) pinch ran for Witham and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.

With two outs, Fr. Sarah Collier (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) pinch hit and reached first base on an error by Trine's right fielder, scoring Nave with the go-ahead run. The score would remain that way until the Thunder scored the two runs to secure the win.

The game saw another pitching duel between Alma Sr. P Louise Rezmer (Essexville, Mich./Bay City All-Saints) and Trine's Andi Gasco. The Scots came up short but Rezmer pitched very well, allowing nine hits in 6.1 innings pitched with one walk and seven strikeouts.

At the plate, Sr. LF Amanda Schneider (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) had two of the Alma five hits, while three other players had a single hit. The Scots left the bases loaded in the top of the first and stranded seven runners overall in the game.

In the nightcap, the Thunder jumped on the Scots early and never looked back en route to the 8-1 win and the afternoon sweep. Trine scored a single run in the first and then had a three-run blast that gave them a 4-0 lead after two innings.

Trine added single runs in the third and fourth off Alma starting pitcher Rezmer to extend the advantage to 6-0. The Scots got on the board in the bottom half of the sixth inning when Schneider walked with one out and eventually scored on a double by So. 3B Lea Lusk (Columbiaville, Mich./Lakeville).

The Thunder then completed the afternoon's scoring when they notched two runs off of Alma So. P Samantha Pierce (Clarklake, Mich./Michigan Center) to make the final 8-1. Pierce gave up the two runs on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

Lusk finished with two of Alma's three hits, while Witham had the other single for the visitors. In addition, the Scots earned four walks and left four runners on base.

Alma is off until Sunday, April 21, when they travel to Heidelberg College (Ohio) for a non-league doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.