ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University softball team swept the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) weekly awards the conference announced today. Senior Kate Saupe (Farwell, Mich. / Farwell) was named Pitcher of the Week while sophomore Mercede Daugherty (Watervilet, Mich. / Watervilet) was named Position Player of the Week.
It is the first time this season that the Thunder have garnered player of the week honors. It is the first time in both player's career that they have earned the award.
Saupe returned home from the team's spring break trip with a perfect 4-0 record in five appearances. She started two games and pitched in relief in three more. During her 15 innings of work, she allowed just one run and walked just three while racking up 20 strikeouts. She currently paces the team with a .35 ERA so far this season.
Her best total performance of the week came against St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) where she shut out the opposition, allowing just two hits and striking out seven as the Thunder came up with the run-rule 8-0 victory.
Daugherty earned her honor on the back of her play in the box. She finished the week with 13 hits including three doubles, a triple and a home run while driving in 11 runs. She came away with a .464 batting average, a .484 on-base percentage and a .750 slugging percentage.
She turned in two three RBI performances during the week. The first coming against Bates on the back of one hit and a sac fly. The other came in a four-hit, two double, game against Houghton.
The Thunder finished their week with an 8-2 record. They will continue their season by traveling to face Ohio Northern on Monday, March 25.