Sophomore Kendra Marshall came through with a two-out walk-off single in the bottom of the 10^th inning that enable Trine University to top Emory University Friday afternoon in the opening game of the NCAA Atlanta Super Regional.  The No.7-ranked Thunder upped their overall record to 42-4 after rallying on two occasions late in the game to post a 6-5 victory over the No. 15 Eagles who slipped to 39-8.

Emory, the designated visiting team, snapped a 3-3 deadlock in the top of the six when senior Lauren Gorodetsky socked a one-out triple to left field and then scored when sophomore Alyssa Pollard stroked a single to left.  The Thunder rallied to force extra innings in the bottom of the seventh when Leah Hall's two-out single on a 2-2 pitch allowed Kaitlyn Clark to scamper home from second.  The Eagles put themselves in a position to win the game when they crossed the plate once in the top of the ninth, using a one-single single by sophomore pinch hitter Melody Carter that scored senior Megan List to go up by a 5-4 count.  However, Trine tied the game once again in its half of the frame with junior Jamie Schnarr doubling in Hall with two out.  Schnarr went 2-for-5 at the plate on the day with three RBIs that included a two-run homer in the bottom of the second that put the Thunder up by a 2-1 margin

After Emory was held scoreless in the top of the tenth, a single by Haleigh Daniels, followed an Eagle fielding error put Trine runners at first and second with one out.  After a ground out moved both runners up a base, Marshall delivered the game-winning hit to center field on a 1-1 pitch.

In a three-plus battle that featured 23 hits and a total of 22 runners left on base, Emory accounted for the game's initial run in the first inning when senior Ally Kersthold led off with a double and later scored thanks to a two-out single by junior catcher Micah Scharff.  After Schnarr's homer in the second put the Thunder up by a 2-1 margin, they tacked on another run in their half of the third.  Emory tied the score in the top of the fifth when sophomore Hannah Sendel knocked in Kertshold and Light with a two-run single. 

Kertshold, Light and Pollard each hit safely twice  with Light's two safeties enabling her to become the school's all-time leader with 229 hits, bettering the previous mark of 228 held by Cassie Walsh (2007-10).

The win puts Trine up, 1-0, in the best two-of-three series.  Emory will look to stay alive when the two teams meet again on Saturday at 1:00 pm.  If the Eagles win that contest, then a decisive third game will be played at 3:30 pm.