ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University softball team will advance to their fifth-straight NCAA Division III Softball Championship Super Regional after sweeping Loras College on the final day of the 2026 NCAA Division III Regional in Angola, Ind.
The Thunder entered the day needing a pair of wins against the Duhawks, who won the first matchup between the two teams yesterday by the score of 2-0. Loras opened the first game of the day with the same pitcher as the last meeting, with similar success. Trine went scoreless through the first two innings and trailed deep into the contest.
The Duhawks built their lead in the game during the first two innings, plating five runs. They scored on a double in the first followed by a pair of runs each on a single and triple in the second inning.
Trine broke the shutout in the third inning with Karley Trine plating a run with a double to leftfield. Emma Lee followed up with a double to left center a few batters later to score two more runs making the score 5-3. Tyra Marcum had a double off the wall in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to one at 5-4.
With just three outs left to erase the rest of the deficit, the senior class played heroes again. Macy Rocha drew a leadoff walk in the seventh, before Lee homered down the leftfield line, banging the flag of the foul pole to stay fair and give the team a 6-5 lead. Debbie Hill finished off the win with three quick outs in the bottom of inning to force a decisive game seven.
Hill earned the win in the circle, going three innings in relief allowing just one hit while striking out one.
The Duhawks ran out of pitching in the final game of the day, with the Thunder power hitting coming into play. Marcum started the scoring in the first with solo homer. Abbie Geib had an RBI single in the second and Jo Trine brought in two more runs after forcing an error by the centerfielder.
Lee singled in the third to bring in another run before Kennedy Huckeby pinch hit and reached on a fielders choice that after an error scored the sixth run of the game. Marcum and Hill went back-to-back over the outfield fence to secure the 9-0 lead for the top of the fifth inning.
Sydney Adolfson finished off the run-rule victory with three more outs. She finished the game allowing just two hits while striking out four batters. The win is her 13th of the season.
Four members of the team were recognized on the regional's all-tournament team. Adolfson, Marcum and Hill earned spots on the team proper while Lee was selected as the regional's most outstanding player.
Trine ends the day 36-5 overall. They now turn their attention to the super regional round of the national tournament. As the second-seeded team in the tournament it is likely the Thunder will host with game one played on Thursday, May 21. Games two and three, if necessary, are scheduled for Friday, May 22.
