LOUISVILLE, Ky.-- The Trine softball team is ranked eighth in the nation in the latest NCAA Division III Top 25 Poll, released Wednesday morning.
The Thunder are receiving votes totaling 141 points in the poll. Trine was ranked seventh in the nation in last week's poll. The team is coming off a 10-0 victory over then-25th ranked DePauw on Monday. The two teams were unable to complete game two, which was suspended with Trine holding a 13-4 lead in the top of the fifth. The Thunder carry a 12-1 record into this afternoon's doubleheader at Bluffton. Trine carries a seven-game winning-streak into the games. The team has won five of those seven games by run-rule.
Click Here for NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll.
Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) has once again been a key to the offensive success from the top of the lineup. The senior is batting .429 with a .796 slugging percentage, a home run, 11 RBIs, seven triples and 13 steals. Searles became NCAA Division IIIs all-time leader in career triples earlier this season and is six triples away from tying the all-time NCAA mark for all divisions.
Amy Newell (Three Rivers, Mich./Three Rivers) has recovered from injuries to lead the power surge. The senior has hit four home runs and knocked in a team-high 15 runs while slugging at a .705 clip. As a team, Trine has racked up a .536 slugging percentage.
The Thunder have also shown elite speed, with 54 steals already. At the current rate of over four steals per game, Trine would shatter the school-record of 95 steals set in 2007. Three players have already stolen 10 or more bases.
Trine's pitching staff has held opposing hitters to just a .130 batting average thus far. Opposing teams are getting on base at a stingy .215 clip and slugging just .187 against Thunder pitchers so far this season.
Justine Robles (Long Beach, Calif./Lakewood) has led the way with six wins and a 0.62 ERA. The junior has tossed three shutouts, and has struck out 56 batters to just six walks in 45 innings this season. Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton) is striking out over nine batters per seven innings and is undefeated in five decisions.
Trine is on the road at Bluffton for a non-conference doubleheader this afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The Thunder are scheduled to play the first-ever game in brand new SportONE/Parkview Field this Sunday at 1 p.m. against John Carroll.