LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Trine University softball team dropped two spots in the latest edition of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll after finishing the past week with a 3-1 record.
The top two spots in the poll remained unchanged with Salisbury University and Christopher Newport University retaining their top spots. Texas Lutheran University and Berry College both hopped the Thunder taking the third and fourth spot respectively. Just behind Trine are Linfield University and Case Western Reserve University.
The Thunder battled through a pair of doubleheaders this week. They opened with a shootout with Muskingum University that ended with an 8-7 loss for Trine, the team's first loss in nearly a month. They responded in the twilight of the second game, scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the series split with a 5-1 win just before the game was called for darkness.
The team then opened the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) season with a sweep of visiting Adrian College. Freshman Debbie Hill spearheaded the effort in game one, pitching a complete game shutout and recording the walk-off single to secure the 1-0 victory. Hill and fellow freshman Karley Trine started the second game by bringing in three runs to give the team the early lead. Senior Anna Koeppl and junior Alexis Michon combined for the game in the circle to secure the win at 3-1.
Koeppl earned her second MIAA Pitcher of the Week honors for her work. She finished her two games with a perfect 0.00 earned runs average and seven strikeouts to take the award.