On a beautiful, sunny early April afternoon, the Alma College softball team hosted Trine University at Scots Park in a key league doubleheader between the two perennial powers. The day belonged to the Thunder however, as the visitors won game one 6-1 and took the nightcap by a margin of 6-3.

Alma fell to 10-12 overall and 3-5 in the MIAA, while Trine is now 22-1 in 2014 and 6-0 in the league.

Game 1

In the first game of the day, the Thunder took an early lead and rode it to a 6-1 victory. In the top of the first, Alma recorded two quick outs before Trine fought back to score a run. A single, wild pitch and an infield throwing error allowed the Thunder to scratch in a run for a 1-0 lead.

The Thunder's lead increased to 2-0 in the top half of the second after a one-out triple led to a two-out single in a display of timely hitting by the visitors.

Alma cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the second and the rally started with a lead-off single by Jr. SS Devan Olah (White Lake/Lakeland). Fr. PR Celeste Boyer (South Lyon/South Lyon East) pinch ran and moved to second on a walk by Sr. 1B Christina Snoblen (Alma/Alma).

After a strikeout, another walk loaded the bases. Alma would score their lone run when the next batter, Sr. DH Chanler McCaskey (Morenci/Morenci), was hit by a pitch, forcing in Boyer.

Trine added two more runs right away in the third to answer Alma's run. The Thunder scored two to take a 4-1 advantage as they again did their damage with two outs. Trine followed those outs with three hits and were helped by a Scots error and a wild pitch.

The game settled down at that point but Trine was able to add two security runs in the top of the sixth. The Thunder had a double, hit batter and a single to start the inning, scoring one run. The final run was scored on a double-steal that gave the visitors the commanding five-run lead.

Alma was unable to generate any offense over the last two innings, and for the game, Scots batters struck out 13 times against Trine P Bree Fuller. Jr. P Cori Witham (North Muskegon/North Muskegon) pitched a complete game in the circle and took the loss. She allowed nine hits with seven walks and two strikeouts.

Game 2

In the nightcap, the Scots batted first and took a 1-0 lead in their half of inning. With one out, Fr. 2B Anna Couture (Posen/Posen) walked and stole second. After a strikeout, Olah continued her hot hitting by lining a single up the middle for an RBI.

The score would remain 1-0 all the way to the bottom of the fourth inning although each team left runners on base in those frames. Scots Jr. P Samantha Pierce (Clarklake/Michigan City) kept the team close through the first three innings by keeping the Thunder off balance.

Trine scored all six of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as the wheels started to come off for the Scots. In the frame, the Thunder had four hits but were helped tremendously by three Scots errors that resulted in five unearned runs.

Alma mounted a comeback in the top of the sixth as Jr. 3B Lea Lusk (Columbiaville/Lakeville) and Olah singled and Snoblen walked to load the bases with no outs. Witham reached on an error by the shortstop that scored Lusk and then Fr. PR Jade Garcia (Kentwood/East Kentwood) scored on a passed ball when McCaskey struck out.

That made the score 6-3 but the Scots could no more runs across as the next two batters struck out and popped out, ending the threat.

An exciting and rarely seen play then happened in the bottom of the sixth. Trine got their first two runners on base with two singles. The next batter, Kaitlyn Clark, then lined out to Lusk. She turned and threw to So. 2B Kassidi Adams (Montrose/Montrose), who then tossed it to So. 1B Sarah Collier (Fenton/Fenton), picking off both runners and completing a triple play.

Hoping to capitalize on the momentum, the Scots led off the top of the seventh with a double to left center by Sr. LF Allie Jo Nave (Onaway/Onaway). However, Alma could go no further as two ground outs and a strikeout ended the threat and the game, capping Trine's three-run win.

Two stats jump out when analyzing this afternoon's doubleheader - the Scots struck out 23 times at the plate and committed six errors in the field. Both are tough to overcome against good opponents.

The Scots will regroup and hit the road on Saturday for another league twinbill. Alma will travel to Holland to take on 6-0 in the MIAA Hope College. First pitch is scheduled to occur at 1:00 p.m.