ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University softball team will make their sixth trip to the final site of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship after finishing a super regional sweep of visiting University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a 3-1 victory.
"Our offense wasn't the best today, but that's what makes us dangerous," explained Head Coach Donnie Danklefsen following the contest, "We can beat you in a lot of different ways."
With the Thunder serving as visiting team on the scoreboard for the game, they took to the batters' box early. Emma Lee reached on a single through the right side of the infield and then stole second during the next at-bat. She sprinted home on a single by Debbie Hill to make the score 1-0.
Hill then took to the circle in the bottom half of the inning. She held the Pointers scoreless through three innings, before ultimately ending the day allowing one run on five hits while striking out five others.
The junior helped herself on offense, sending a towering fly ball over the centerfield fence in the third inning to make the score 2-0. The 19th homer of her season ties the program record, giving her a chance to break it next week.
It was a crucial run, with Wis.-Stevens Point finally stringing together a couple of hits in the fourth inning to bring in their first run of the series and cut the lead to 2-1. Hill settled back in after the run and finished the rest of the fourth and the fifth before being relieved in the sixth. Lauren Clausen entered the game then and set down two batters on balls in the air, before Ainsley Phillips caught a runner stealing second to end the inning. Phillips ultimately threw a pair of Pointers out trying to nick second.
"We did a great job neutralizing their running game today," continued Danklefsen, "And that's all and that was all Ainsley's job behind the plate."
Karley Trine pinch hit in the seventh inning and reached base on balls before Whitney Duell returned to the lineup on the basepath. Lee was hit by pitch and Hill was intentionally walked for the second time in the game to load the bases. A wild pitch brought in the run and gave the Thunder the 3-1 lead.
Alexis Michon took to the circle for the seventh, receiving a chance for her record breaking ninth career save at Trine. She lived up to the billing, forcing a fly out and two strikeouts to retire the side and secure the trip to Illinois.
With her win yesterday and the save today, Michon was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the series while Hill's offense and the win in the circle earned her Most Outstanding Player.
The Thunder improve to 41-5 overall and will head to final site of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship for the third time in the last four years. This year that final site is Bloomington, Ill., specifically the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University. Earlier this season the team traveled to Inspiration Field, the playing surface for next weeks tournament, and picked up a pair of wins against the Titans.
"We went to Illinois Wesleyan for the first time this season, for one reason, to get back there when it matters. Now we are going back, and the job is to take it one pitch at the time," finished Danklefsen, "I love this team and our chemistry. I wouldn't pick another team to go play with."
Following conclusion of all eight super regional matchups, teams will be reseeded for the final site with opening matchups and game times released sometime this weekend. The team is set to open competition on Thursday, May 29.
