BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Trine University softball team notched a convincing 8-0 victory over sixth seeded University of Redlands to advance to the winners' side of the bracket at the 2025 NCAA Division III Softball Championship final site. All eight runs came on just two swings of the bat, with the Thunder recording two grand slams in the contest.
 Before the offensive explosion could start, the team sent their ace to the circle and she again lived up to the top billing. Alexis Michon did allow a hit in the first inning, but the lone baserunner was left stranded at first after three other quick outs.
Three of the first four batters reached for the Thunder, with Whitney Duell and Tyra Marcum reaching on singles before Debbie Hill drew the walk. With the bases loaded Macy Rocha clobbered a ball to left center, giving the team a 4-0 lead in spectacular fashion.
"It's something you always dream of as a kid," said Rocha after the game, "But it was just really nice to be able to go out there and help my team in any way I could. I knew we had bases loaded and I had to get a hit in that moment to get us on the right track."
"In the super regional, they walked Debbie several times to get to Macy," explained head coach Donnie Danklefsen, "We talked this week that it might happen again you'll be ready. I'm proud of the way she set the tone early."
The next three innings went quickly, especially for the Bulldogs who were sat down in order. Then in the bottom of the fourth, the Thunder loaded the bases again. This time Ainsley Phillips led off with an error, before Duell recorded a second hit and Marcum drew the walk. Hill made history with her homer down the left field line. The single swing broke two program single season records, with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs. Setting aside the historic implications, the hit put the team up 8-0, giving the team a chance to end the game early in the fifth.
"It just feels really good. I've worked hard for my entire life to get to this point," reflected Hill, "Getting to do it on this stage with these teammates makes it just that much more special."
"There are very few kids that would break those records and not know that it happened, but she didn't," followed Danklefsen, "It speaks volumes for her character and that of this team that they don't get caught up in records."
For the first time in a long time, Michon looked a bit more human. She walked the first batter and the second reached on a hit by pitch. The senior seemed to return to form by striking out the next batter, but a hard hit ball down the line forced an error and loaded the bases with just one out. Rocha made up for the error catching her second line drive ball down the line, putting Redlands to their last out. The entire stadium held their breath when the next batter hit a long fly ball to center field, which carried Emma Lee all the way to the wall before she made the catch to seal the victory.
Michon ultimately ended the game with her 23 win and 10th shutout of the season. Both of those tallies inch her closer to single season records of her own, she is now one away from tying in both of those categories. She recorded four strikeouts in the game.
Three batters ended the game perfect in the box. Duell went 2-for-2 along with a walk, while both Hill and Marcum ended the game 1-for-1 with one walk each.
"I thought we came out really poised," summarized Danklefsen, "I thought Whitney Duell did a great job of setting the table early. I thought we did a good job working the tight strike zone. I thought Michon was her normal dependable self. It came together today and we are on the right side of the bracket."
The Thunder improve to 42-5 overall following the victory. They will continue competition in Bloomington tomorrow, Friday, May 30. Their 4 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. ET will be against second seeded Rowan University, who won their first game of the week 5-0 against Texas Lutheran University.
