LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After going 9-1 on the week, including winning the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Leadoff Classic Gold Bracket, the Trine University softball team moved up six spots in the NFCA Coaches polls to No. 5. The Thunder are now 11-1 on the season.
The Thunder won four games at the Rebel Spring Games to start the week, including a 3-1 win over Simpson who entered the poll this week at No. 18. Trine suffered their only loss of the season in the opener of the Leadoff Classic to Illinois Wesleyan who climbed one spot ahead of the Thunder at No.4. After winning their final two pool games by a combined score of 26-3, the Thunder received the final spot in the Gold Bracket.
Trine showed they belonged, as they took down defending National Champion Pacific Lutheran, who dropped out of the polls from 18th, 5-2 to advance to the semi-finals and a rematch with Illinois Wesleyan. This time, the Thunder would quiet the Titans with a 2-1 win to advance to the championship game. Facing the only undefeated team left in the tournament, Trine used a 4-run 7th inning to comeback and knock off No. 22 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 5-4 and claim the championship.
The No. 5 ranking for the Thunder is the highest they have ever been ranked in school history. Trine will next face Hiram College, who also participated in the Leadoff Classic, in the home-opener on March 16 beginning at 2:00 p.m.
The complete poll can be found here.