LOUISVILLE, Ky.-- For the second conseuctive week, the Trine softball team is ranked eighth in the nation in the NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll.
The Thunder checked in with votes totaling 151 points in this week's poll, 10 points up from last week. Trine went 4-0 in games since the last ranking, sweeping non-conference foe Bluffton and taking two games from John Carroll in the first games held at SportONE/Parkview Softball Field. Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) was named the MIAA's Position Player of the Week for her performance last week. The victories extended the team's winning-streak to 11 games. The Thunder carry a 16-1 overall record into Saturday's MIAA opener at Adrian.
Click Here for NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll.
Searles continues to be a dynamic threat atop the lineup, with a team-high .484 batting average, two home runs, 12 RBIs, eight triples and 18 steals. She is five triples from tying the all-time NCAA career mark of 51 set by Tricia Popowski (South Carolina, 1988-91).
Amy Newell (Three Rivers, Mich./Three Rivers) leads the Thunder in the power department with four home runs and a team-high 18 RBIs. Newell is batting .333 and has also stolen 13 bases. Rachel Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover) is just behind Newell with three homers on the season. As a team, the Thunder have hit 16 homers while slugging at a .543 clip.
Leah Hall (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) showcases Trine's lineup depth by ranking second on the team with 17 RBIs despite hitting in the nine-hole. Hall also ranks second on the team with a .379 batting average.
Trine is on pace to set a new program mark in steals this season. The Thunder have already stolen 72 bases, the fifth-most in a season in team history. Five players have swiped seven or more bases this season.
The team's starting pitching tandem of Justine Robles (Long Beach, Calif./Lakewood) and Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton) have paced the Trine pitching staff in allowing opponents to bat just .153 against Thunder pitching this season. Robles has fired four shutouts this season, while Fuller has yet to be beaten in six decisions.
The Thunder open conference play this Saturday, Mar. 28 at Adrian. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.