The 25th-ranked Case Western Reserve University softball team fell to 20th-ranked Trine University 1-0 in the first game of the NCAA Super Regional at SportONE/Parkview Field in Angola, Indiana on Friday afternoon.

With the loss, the Spartans drop to 30-11, while the Thunder improve to 31-11. The best-of-three series continues Saturday with Game 2 at 11 a.m. A Case Western Reserve win would force a decisive Game 3 immediately after.

First-year pitcher Lexi Miskey (16-5) pitched well for the Spartans in the circle, allowing just one run on two hits in six innings while striking out 10. It is her fifth double-digit strikeout game this season and second of the NCAA Championship. In the sixth inning, Miskey recorded her 153rd strikeout to tie former Spartan Rebecca Taylor for third most in a single season in program history. The CWRU record is 184, done by former Spartan Ilissa Hamilton in the 2018 season.  

The Thunder scored the only run of the game in the second inning without the benefit of a hit. The first two batters reached base and moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. A one-out groundout brought in the runner from third to break the scoreless tie.

In the fifth inning, Trine loaded the bases with one out. Miskey struck out the next batter, her eighth of the game, and induced a pop out to escape the jam. Case Western Reserve threatened in the sixth, getting a runner to second base with two outs, but were unable to score.

Adrienne Rosey (14-7) earned the win for Trine, striking out seven batters with no walks.

Sophomore infielder KaiLi Gross collected two of the three Spartan hits, with junior second baseman Amanda Riely adding the other.