LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has announced the week four coaches poll results, with the Trine University softball team number one yet again. The Thunder have been atop the NFCA Coaches Poll in all four weeks of the season.
The top seven teams in the poll remain unchanged in their positioning, with the Thunder receiving all ten available first-place votes. The team has a 16-1 overall record after going 4-0 in the Pioneer Classic hosted by Transylvania University and have now won 12 consecutive games. In the wins, Trine had run-rule victories in three of their four games after outscoring their opposition 41-14 for the weekend.
Adding to the accolades for the squad, the team swept the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Athlete of the Week awards. Alexis Michon earned the MIAA Pitcher of the Week honor while Debbie Hill was MIAA Position Player of the Week.
Michon and Hill are both a part of a Thunder pitching staff that is overwhelming their opponents. Along with Lauren Clausen and Alex Rodriguez, Trine is third in NCAA Division III in WHIP at 0.75, fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 7.56 and fifth in shutouts with six.
Not only is the pitching staff off to a quality start, but the bats are also hot recently. Karley Trine is leading the MIAA in hits with 23 on the year and Hill's four homeruns leads the conference as well. Tyra Marcum's 18 RBIs are second in the MIAA and 22nd in NCAA Division III. The Thunder are inside the top-15 nationally in homeruns, runs, slugging percentage and doubles.
For the first time this year, Trine will be at home against Anderson University for a doubleheader on Friday, March 22. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.