LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The final National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/ GoRout Division III Coaches Poll reflects the results of the 2026 NCAA Division III Softball Championship with Trine University softball slotting in at second.
The Thunder entered the national tournament, after the penultimate NFCA poll, ranked fourth. They garnered 20 more points in the rankings to secure their second place spot. University of Redlands took the top spot after winning their first national championship. Simpson College and Belhaven University rounded out the top four while Linfield University placed fifth.
Trine ended the season in the championship series for the fourth time in five seasons. They were swept by the Bulldogs in the final series, finishing as runners-up for the second time in program history. The other time came in 2022 starting the five year run that added two national championships.
This season the Thunder finished the year with a 41-8 overall record. It is the fourth straight season the team has reached the 40-win mark, just the sixth ever. Along the way a host of program records fell. The team set season marks in on-base percentage (.460), runs scored (436), doubles (111), home runs (80), runners batted in (409), total bases (875) and walks (213).
Along the way, Head Coach Donnie Danklefsen surpassed 700 career wins at Trine. He finishes his 22nd season at the helm with a 725-214 record with a staggering .772 winning percentage.
