Softball Ranked Ninth in Latest Top 25 Poll

Softball Ranked Ninth in Latest Top 25 Poll

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Trine softball team is ranked ninth in the nation in the latest National Fastpich Coaches Association Division III Top 25 poll released this morning.

The Thunder received votes totaling 124 points in this week's poll. Trine was ranked sixth last week and has been ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation this spring. Last week, the Thunder went 2-2 with a sweep of Saint Mary's and a sweep at the hands of Alma. Trine owns a 28-4 overall record and is part of a three-way tie for second in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The team was ranked No. 1 in the Central Region in the first official NCAA Regional rankings released last week, which are used to determine NCAA postseason bids and seeding.

A challenging schedule has resulted in the Thunder racking up a 5-2 record against teams currently ranked in the Top 25. The team owns victories over Luther (No. 4), Messiah (8), Cortland (17), William Paterson (20) and Ramapo (21). Both of Trine's defeats at the hands of ranked foes came Sunday against Alma.

The Thunder lead the nation in home runs per game, averaging 1.44 per contest. The team has belted 46 home runs through 32 games and is slugging .543, the sixth-best slugging percentage in the nation. Trine's 7.13 runs per game rank 15th in the nation.

Leading the power surge has been Kaylee Fox (Vermilion, Ohio / Edison). The junior ranks fourth in the nation with 13 home runs and is slugging a team-best .760. Fox's next home run will make her the all-time leader in career homers at Trine. She is currently tied with Andi Gasco (2010-13) with 42 homers apiece.

Freshmen Makenna Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) and Carly Bachna (Elyria, Ohio / Elyria) have helped key the power surge. Hartline's nine homers rank ninth nationally, while Bachna sits just behind with eight. Fox, Hartline and Bachna boast the three highest home run totals in the MIAA. Bachna leads the Thunder with a .389 batting average.

Danielle Ray (Hamilton, Ohio / Badin) and Hannah Kampmann (St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin Derham Hall) have led Trine's pitching staff to a 2.08 ERA. Ray is in the mix for the Schutt Sports/NFCA Division III Player of the Year award. She is one of two freshman on the list. Ray is allowing 4.42 hits per seven innings, the 19th-best rate in the nation. She is 13-2 with a 1.56 ERA, four saves and 116 strikeouts in 107.2 innings. Kampmann's 1.46 ERA ranks third in the conference.

Trine travels to Hope for a key matchup in the race for MIAA Tournament seeding. The Flying Dutch enter the game 21-11 overall and tied with the Thunder in the conference standings at 9-3. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.