Thunder Softball Team Ranked 10th in Latest Poll

Thunder Softball Team Ranked 10th in Latest Poll

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Trine softball team is ranked No. 10 in the nation in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Poll.

The Thunder earned a 39-point bump from last week's No. 12 ranking to receive 131 points in this week's poll. Trine is off to a 10-0 start, the team's longest undefeated streak to start a season in program history. Included among its wins this season is a victory over then-No. 19 Cortland. The Thunder also own wins over DePauw and Illinois Wesleyan, which are both receiving votes in this week's poll.

Trine's power has been on display throughout the lineup in the early going. The team has belted 16 home runs and slugged .572 through the first 10 games. The Thunder are batting .332 with a .424 on-base clip. The team is averaging 7.4 runs per game and has walked more often than it has struck out this season.

Leading the power surge have been a pair of freshmen. Makenna Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) has crushed six home runs and driven in a team-high 17 runs while slugging 1.029. She is batting .429. Fellow freshman Carly Bachna (Elyria, Ohio / Elyria) has batted .486 with five home runs, including a streak during which she homered in four consecutive games. Bachna has knocked in 14 runs.

Kaylee Fox (Vermilion, Ohio / Edison) moved into ninth in team history with 104 career RBIs and is now third all-time in career home runs with 32. The junior has three homers this year. Catherine Porter (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth Canton) has also shown a knack for the big hit with 12 RBIs to go along with a homer and .391 batting clip.

Freshmen have accounted for all 10 of Trine's wins in the circle. Hannah Kampmann (St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin Derham Hall) is 6-0 and sports a 0.79 ERA over 26.2 innings. Danielle Ray (Hamilton, Ohio / Badin) is 4-0 with two saves. Ray has a 2.63 ERA and has struck out 33 in 35.2 innings. Trine pitchers own a 2.64 ERA overall.

Trine continues play in the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. tomorrow. The Thunder take on Washington College and No. 6 Messiah. The team will also face No. 4 Luther in its final game of the Rebel Spring Game before returning north.