ANGOLA, Ind. – The reigning NCAA Division III Softball Champions from Trine University have announced their 2024 schedule as they begin their quest for a second straight trophy.

The enters the season with a slate of 40 games including 12 at home, 11 on the road and 17 at neutral sites. They enter the season ranked first in the country by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and are set to face seven opponents also featured in the preseason poll. They will also see 11 opponents that competed in last year's championship tournament.

The Thunder open the season with a trip to the NFCA Leadoff Classic, an invitation only event that features some of the top teams in the country. Of the team's six games in the three-day event, four are currently ranked. The team opens against Babson College and 16^th ranked East Texas Baptist University on Friday, March 1. In the next two days they also face tenth-ranked Randolph-Macon College, 12^th-ranked Belhaven University and eighth-ranked Christopher Newport University. Rounding out the first six games is the College of Saint Benedict.

After the time in Georgia, Trine will head to Florida for "The Spring Games" to round out their spring break trip. Highlighting the slate of eight-game stretch are 19^th-ranked Lebanon Valley College along with University of Mount Union, Waynesburg University and University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth all of which were tournament teams in 2023.

The team then makes a weekend trip to Kentucky for the Pioneer Classic hosted by Transylvania University. In addition to their hosts the Thunder will face Wartburg College, DePauw University and Hanover College in the two days of the event. Transy enters the season ranked 20^th and Wartburg was a contestant in last year's tournament.

The Thunder will open their home slate of games on Friday, March 22 when Anderson (Ind.) University comes to town for a doubleheader. Two days later the team will travel to face Ohio Northern University for two before they return home for a Saturday, March 30 matchup against 25^th ranked Hiram College.

With the coming of April, Trine moves to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play. Last season the Thunder won their 12^th MIAA championship, the fourth in a row, with a two game lead at the top of the standings. The conference slate has the team set to travel to Kalamazoo College, Adrian College, The University of Olivet and Hope College while they will host Calvin University, Saint Mary's College, Alma College and Albion College.

Regular season ends with the doubleheader against the Britons on Sunday, May 5. The conference tournament is scheduled to begin the following week with the NCAA tournament set to follow.