LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the third straight week the Trine University softball team remains at the top of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Coaches Poll.
The Thunder were again selected as the top team in the country by a unanimous vote of the polled coaches, receiving all ten first-place votes. In fact, the top six in the rankings remained unchanged from the last edition. Salisbury University, who Trine defeated in last year's national championship game, were once again placed second and Linfield University retained the third spot.
Last week Trine recorded eight-straight victories to finish their spring break slate. They have outscored opponents 55-6 during the stretch. So far this season they have scored 95 runs for an average of 7.31 per game.
Head Coach Don Danklefsen secured his 600th win during the past week. He becomes just the 48th coach in NCAA Division III history to reach the milestone and is one of 20 active coaches with 600 or more wins.
On Monday, Debbie Hill was named Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Pitcher of the Week after her dominance during the Florida stretch. She made five appearances, including two wins and two saves, while allowing just seven hits, one walk and two runs. Along the way she recorded 27 strikeouts for an average of 12.33 per seven innings.
Trine is set to head to the Pioneer Classic for their next round of competition. They opened the event on Saturday, March 16 when they face off against Wartburg College at 10 a.m. and their hosts from Transylvania University, who is ranked ninth in the national poll, at 12:15 p.m.
