COLUMBUS, Ga.-- Trine's Justine and Erica Robles have been named to the NFCA Division III Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team, the NFCA announced Monday.
The duo from Long Beach, Calif. played key roles in leading the Thunder to a 5-1 record and second place in the Leadoff Classic. Erica set the table atop the Trine batting order, hitting .478 in the tournament with two doubles, one RBI, three stolen bases and eight runs scored. Justine finished 2-1 with one save and a 1.72 ERA in five appearances in the circle, allowing just eight hits over 20.1 innings pitched and striking out 22 batters. Their performances helped the Thunder defeat three opponents ranked in the top 10 of the NCAA Division III Poll.
Both players were at their best against Trine's top opponents. Erica batted .471 with two doubles, four runs scored and a stolen base against the four top 10 opponents the Thunder faced on the weekend. Included among those performances was a three-hit effort in a 6-1 victory over East Texas Baptist in which she doubled, scored two runs and stole a base.
Justine completed two starts to earn victories over top-10 opponents East Texas Baptist and Virginia Wesleyan. She tossed two complete games, totaling 14 innings pitched and allowing just five hits. She struck out 13 in those two starts.
Erica concluded the weekend batting .412 with a .444 on-base and .451 slugging percentage. She has settled into the no. 1 spot in the batting order, totaling two RBIs and eight stolen bases on the season. The sophomore made her first two career starts at shortstop on the final day of the Leadoff Classic.
This week, Justine became the fourth pitcher in team history to total over 300 strikeouts and now has 325 in her career. This season, the senior owns a 4-2 record with a miniscule 1.10 ERA. She has struck out 48 batters and allowed 21 hits in 44.2 innings. Her next victory will be the 40th of her career.
Trine will play its home-opener next Friday, Mar. 25 against Transylvania. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
The complete All-Tournament Team is listed below.
NFCA Division III Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team
MVP- Kaylee Prather, Texas-Tyler
P- Alaina Kissinger, Texas-Tyler
P- Justine Robles, Trine
C- Danielle Smith, Illinois Wesleyan
1B- Taylor Yancey, Texas Lutheran
2B- Emily Sabo, Kean
SS- Sarah Moore, Berry
3B- McKenzie Creed, Alma
OF- Amanda Ballew, Birmingham-Southern
OF- Courtney Bogan, Virginia Wesleyan
OF- Meagan Jones, Christopher Newport
DP- Erica Robles, Trine
UTIL- Jayme Perez, East Texas Baptist