ANGOLA, Ind.-- Trine will travel to DePauw University to compete in the NCAA Regionals this weekend.
The Thunder will face Thomas More in the first round of the Greencastle Regional this Friday at 1 p.m. Trine punched its ticket to regionals for the eighth-consecutive year by winning its third-consecutive MIAA Tournament to receive the conference's automatic-qualifying berth. The Thunder finished the regular-season 37-3 overall and won the MIAA regular-season title for the fourth-consecutive year. Trine is led by eight all-conference selections, including MIAA Most Valuable Position Player Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) and MIAA Pitcher of the Year Justine Robles (Long Beach, Calif./Lakewood).
Other first-team All-MIAA selections included first baseman Kaylee Fox (Vermilion, Ohio/Edison), shortstop Jamie Schnarr (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering) and pitcher Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton). Left fielder Kaitlyn Clark (Mount Juliet, Tenn./Wilson Central), right fielder Leah Hall (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) and third baseman Kendra Marshall (Leesburg, Ind./Warsaw) were each named to the second-team.
The Thunder boast one of the most prolific lineups in the nation. Trine led the nation in home runs per game and slugging percentage to rank second in scoring. The Thunder also ranked third in the country in doubles per game, seventh in batting average, ninth in stolen bases per game and 11th in on-base percentage.
DePauw and Washington-St. Louis will square off in the other half of the regional bracket. The tournament follows double-elimination format. More information on each team in the regional and a game schedule can be found below.
Thomas More
The Saints tied for first in the Presidents' Athletic Conference and won the league's automatic bid by winning the conference tournament. Thomas More enters the regional with a 26-15 overall record.
Shortstop Ana Walter, freshman left fielder Sammy Sagers and pitcher Mamee Salzer were named to the All-PAC First Team. Outfielders Laura Finke and Catie Luck were second-team honorees. Saints pitchers posted a cumulative 2.62 ERA, with Salzer winning 16 game with a 2.30 ERA.
Trine and Thomas More did not face any common opponents this season.
DePauw University
The Tigers finished the regular-season 30-13 overall, winning the North Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles.
DePauw's lineup is filled with players experienced from a regional appearance last season. The Tigers boast a combination of speed and power, ranking fourth in the nation in stolen bases per game and leading the NCAC with 33 home runs. Linsey Button, Taylor Golden, Sammi Bell and Lauren Gooden each topped five homers on the year.
Trine defeated DePauw 10-0 in six innings in the team's lone official meeting of the season. A second game was suspended due to darkness and wasn't able to be completed.
Washington-St. Louis
The Bears received an at-large bid after finishing the regular-season with a 33-11 record. They were ranked 20th in the nation in the latest NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll.
Junior pitcher Annie Pitkin earned co-player of the year honors in the University Athletic Association, ranking in the top 10 in the nation in strikeouts, strikeout rate and shutouts. Second baseman Paige Biles and third baseman Adrienne White were also first-team honorees. Outfielders Hannah Mehlre and Janet Taylor earned second-team honors.
Washington-St. Louis went 1-1 against DePauw in the regular-season. The Bears went 3-0 against other teams appearing on Trine's schedule, with two wins over Case Western Reserve and a victory over Adrian.
2015 NCAA GREENCASTLE REGIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, May 8
Game 1 1:00 p.m. Thomas More College vs. Trine University
Game 2 3:30 p.m. Washington University-St. Louis vs. DePauw University
Saturday, May 9
Game 3 11:00 a.m. Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 4 1:30 p.m. Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser
Game 5 4:00 p.m. Game 4 winner vs Game 3 loser
Sunday, May 10
Game 6 12:00 p.m. Game 3 winner vs Game 5 winner
Game 7 2:30 p.m. If necessary