LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Trine University softball team gained points but fell out of a tie for sixth to be ranked seventh in this week's edition of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Top 25 Poll.
The Thunder garnered an additional three points this week to finish with 152 and the seventh spot. Last week the team was in a tie for sixth with Illinois Wesleyan University who this week holds that spot alone. Once again Virginia Wesleyan University took the top spot in unanimous fashion.
Once again Trine finished the week perfect picking up sweeps of Calvin College, Hope College and Wittenberg University. The four wins against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opponent secured the Thunder their ninth MIAA regular season championship.
The team continues to boast a nationally ranked offense as they sit in fifth in both doubles per game (2.29) and home runs per game (1.12). They also come in at seventh in team slugging percentage (.882). In addition, the pitching staff for the Thunder continues to impress with the team sitting top 20 in both earned run average (1.81) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.38).
In MIAA play Trine swiped both weekly awards with junior Hannah Kampmann (St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin Derham Hall) being named MIAA Pitcher of the Week and junior Makenna Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) taking the MIAA Position Player of the Week award.
The Thunder take the diamond again in the first round of the MIAA Tournament with a game against Saint Mary's College.