SALEM, Va. – Another historic season for the Trine University softball team ended in heartbreak with the University of Redlands winning 7-6 in the final game of the 2026 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.
"We didn't come into today with much of a gameplan," explained Karley Trine, "We just said no matter what happens we are going to have the most fun possible. The most fun of any team here. No matter what we were going to go out on top by enjoying our last outing and leaving it all on the field."
The Thunder again opened the final game with runs in their favor. Karley Trine got things going with a single before moving to second with another hit from Tyra Marcum. Both moved up on a passed ball before Debbie Hill walked the bases loaded. Emma Lee brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly before Macy Rocha cleared the bases with her sixth home run of the season.
"I think that any team that faces us had to face a great lineup from one to nine," said Rocha, "It's a lot of pressure to know that there isn't an easy out and we've applied that pressure early all week."
The Bulldogs responded in the second manufacturing a pair of runs to cut the deficit in half. They did so again in the fourth with a single run to make the score 4-3.
Trine mounted a response of their own in the fifth. Hill reached on a single with one out bringing Lee to the plate. The senior hit her 17th homer of the season to bring in two and build the lead to 6-3.
"Unfortunately, we have a tendency this season to get up and then take our foot off the gas," said Jo Trine, "Today we huddled up and reminded ourselves that yesterday that didn't work. Then we took what they were giving us and scored again."
Kami Arnett took her day into the sixth inning after making the start in the circle. The freshman weathered the opening salvos by Redlands well, minimizing damage until the fateful sixth inning. It was then that the Bulldogs worked their leadoff to third and then replaced them at second after a single scored the first run. The bases loaded after that before a single to center field tied the game at six.
Hill got the team out of the inning after the runs, but gave up a few hits in the seventh that scored the winning run for Redlands. Trine was unable to score a run in the bottom of the seventh and the game ended on a flyball to right center.
Arnett finished the game with 5-and-two-thirds innings of work allowing six runs on eight hits and four walks. She struck out six. Hill was the pitcher of record allowing one run on three hits.
Arnett and Marcum earned All-Tournament Team honors as the top performers for the Thunder.
"I couldn't be more proud of this group, especially our senior class. They have done it all, but most importantly they are just great human beings," summed up Head Coach Donnie Danklefsen, "This is one of the closest group of seniors I've had, I am going to miss them not just as players, but as friends."
With the loss the Thunder finish the season 41-8. It is the fourth straight season they reached the 40-win mark and just the fifth ever. They have reached the championship series four of the past five seasons. The pair of home runs today bring the season total to 80, surpassing the previous program record by four.
"What this senior class has accomplished is really special. They might not feel I right now, but hopefully soon they can truly understand that," finished Danklefsen, "They willed us to this point. Now I'm excited to see what they do in life and my door will always be open to them."
