LOUISVILLE, KY.-- The Trine softball team has climbed two spots to the no. 3 national ranking in the latest NFCA Top 25 Poll, released Wednesday.
The Thunder are receiving votes totaling 187 points and received a first-place vote for the first time this season. Trine was previously ranked fifth the last three weeks. The Thunder have clinched the MIAA regular-season title and can set the all-time conference record for most-consecutive wins in league play today at St. Mary's. The team has won 44-straight conference games to tie the all-time record set by Alma (1997-2000). The Thunder had their 30-game winning-streak snapped by John Carroll in game two of a doubleheader Monday. TU holds a 31-2 overall record, 12-0 in the MIAA. The NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll is selected by eight NCAA Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions. Votes reflect games played through Monday.
Trine boasts one of the top offenses in all of NCAA Division III. The Thunder ranked third in the nation in both scoring (8.65 runs/game) and slugging percentage (.577) through games played Monday. Trine is eighth in the nation in home runs per game (0.94) and batting average (.377) and 12th in stolen bases per game (2.64).
Strong pitching and defense have led the Thunder to being ranked 21st in the nation in fielding percentage (.968) and 22nd in team ERA (1.64).
Numerous Thunder players rank among the nation's leaders. Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) leads the nation with 11 triples and also ranks first in triples per game. The junior All-American center fielder also ranks sixth in the nation in runs per game (1.58).
With Searles setting the table atop the order, Kaitlyn Clark (Mount Juliet, Tenn./Wilson Central) has taken advantage of run-producing opportunities to rank 20th in the nation in RBI's per game (1.32). Clark has supplied MIAA-leading power with 12 home runs. As of Monday's NCAA Statistics report, she had hit 10 homers to rank 10th in the nation in that category.
Pitcher Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton) ranked seventh in the nation in strikeouts per game (10.6) and eighth in strikeouts (160) as of the release of the NCAA rankings. She has since added to those totals with a 14-strikeout performance in a victory over John Carroll. Fuller tossed her second-career no-hitter to help the Thunder clinch the MIAA-title Saturday at Calvin.
Rotation-mate Justine Robles (Long Beach, Calif./Lake Wood) has been every bit as stingy in the circle this season. The sophomore's 1.01 ERA through Monday ranked 22nd in the nation. Among MIAA pitchers, Robles' 7.73 strikeouts per seven innings trails just Fuller in that category.
With a win in game one today at St. Mary's, Trine can set the all-time MIAA record for consecutive conference wins with 45. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
The Thunder will host the 2014 MIAA Softball Tournament, which begins next Thursday, May 1 at 11:00 a.m. at the Trine University Softball Field. Trine is slated a yet-to-be-determined opponent at 1:00 p.m. The Thunder will be seeking a second-consecutive MIAA Tournament title.