Thunder Seek Super Regional Title, National Championship Bid

Thunder Seek Super Regional Title, National Championship Bid

ANGOLA, Ind.-- The Trine softball team will be seeking a Super Regional title and a bid to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship when it hosts St. Thomas in the Super Regional round this weekend.

The Thunder and Tommies open a best-of-three series Friday, May 20 at 4 p.m. in the first Super Regional ever held at Trine University and SportONE/Parkview Softball Field. The series concludes with game two Saturday, May 21 at 1 p.m., with the if-necessary game three to follow. The winner of the series moves on to the National Championships in Salem, Va. The victor in the Angola, Indiana Super Regional would meet the winner of Atlanta Super Regional matchup between Emory and Benedictine (Ill.).

Trine claimed its second Regional title in school history after winning the championship on its home field. The Thunder swept through Regional play with victories over Greenville, Wheaton and University of Chicago. Catherine Porter (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth Canton) was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, while Kaylee Fox (Vermilion, Ohio / Edison), Justine Robles (Long Beach, Calif. / Lakewood) and Erica Robles (Long Beach, Calif. / Lakewood) each earned All-Tournament honors.

This weekend will mark Trine's second appearance in the Super Regional round. The Thunder own a 2-0 record in Super Regional action, having swept Emory in 2014 to reach the National Championships for the first time in school history. Seven players on the current roster were contributors on that team.

Three Trine players were named to the NFCA All-Central Region team Monday. Third baseman Kendra Marshall (Leesburg, Ind. / Warsaw) and pitcher Justine Robles were named to the First Team, while catcher Rachell Noble (Indianapolis, Ind. / Decatur Central) earned Second Team honors. First baseman Fox, outfielder Kaitlyn Clark (Mount Juliet, Tenn. / Wilson Central) and pitcher Bre Cooper (Beech Grove, Ind. / Beech Grove) were all-conference performers this year.

St. Thomas reached the Super Regional round by sweeping through the Lake Forest Regional. The Tommies earned a victory of Wisconsin-Whitewater and beat Lake Forest twice. St. Thomas has won two National Championships in school history and last reached the championship round in 2014. That year also marked the last time the Tommies won a Regional title.

Pitcher Kierstin Anderson-Glass was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Lake Forest Regional. She allowed two runs in 20 innings of work. Glass was also named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Pitcher and Rookie of the year and was named to the NFCA All-Midwest Region First Team.

Designated player Brenna Walek and third baseman Micaela Trainor were also named NFCA All-Region performers on the second team. Second baseman Megan DuPuis, first baseman / pitcher Katie Jo Delisle and outfielders Dana Connelly and Melissa Barry earned All-MIAC honors for St. Thomas.

More information on the NCAA® Division III Softball Angola, Indiana Super Regional can be found HERE.