INDIANAPOLIS-- The Trine softball team was been named the NCAA Division III statistical champion in three statistical categories and boasted one individual national statistics leader during the 2015 season.
The Thunder topped the nation in runs per game, home runs per game and slugging percentage last season. Additionally, senior Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) topped the nation in runs scored per game. This is the third-straight season Trine has led the country in slugging percentage. The Thunder have led the nation in scoring and home runs per game two of the last three seasons.
Trine's 8.66 runs per game was just over half a run better than second-place Averett. The Thunder scored 10 or more runs in a game 15 times, including a season-high 29 in a victory over Calvin. Trine's run-scoring ability was due in large part to a .371 team batting average and .433 on-base percentage.
Ten different players slugged two or more home runs in leading the Thunder to an average of 1.61 home runs per contest. Kaylee Fox (Vermilion, Ohio/Edison) led the team with a school freshman-record 16 home runs on her way to becoming the first freshman All-American in Trine softball history.
Every Thunder player with 50 or more plate appearances slugged .500 or better. The team rapped out 182 extra-base hits, including 71 home runs. The performance led Trine to a .639 team slugging percentage.
Searles scored 1.70 runs per game as the catalyst atop the Trine lineup. The performance followed a 2014 campaign that saw the center fielder lead the country in triples per game. Searles became NCAA Division IIIs all-time career leader in hits, triples and runs scored on her way to wrapping up her career as a three-time All-American.
Trine won its fourth-straight MIAA regular-season title and third-consecutive conference crown on the way to the team's eighth-consecutive NCAA Regionals appearance. The Thunder concluded the year with a 39-5 overall record.