by FREELAND, Mich.– Trine’s Carly Searles (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians) has been named MIAA Position Player of the Week and Bree Fuller has been named MIAA Pitcher of the Week after the duo led the Thunder to the MIAA Tournament title last week.
Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) broke the all-time NCAA Division III record for career hits with a single in the fifth inning of the MIAA Tournament championship game. The senior batted .412 (7-for-17) over the course of the tournament with two home runs, three RBIs and six runs scored. Searles went 2-for-3 with a leadoff home run and a walk in the championship game against Alma, a game the Thunder went on to win 8-7 in extra-innings. She is being honored as Position Player of the Week for the fourth time this season and sixth in her caerer.
Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton) earned the victory in three of Trine’s four wins in the MIAA Tournament, posting a 2.06 ERA over four appearances. Two of Fuller’s victories were picked up in relief, including two innings of shutout work in the MIAA Championship victory over Alma. The senior also tossed a complete game to get the victory in a 10-2 win over Saint Mary’s. Fuller’s career-record now sits at 62-6. She is being honored as Pitcher of the Week for the first time this season and sixth in her career.
The Thunder won three-straight games on the second day of the MIAA Tournament to win their third-consecutive tournament title. Trine finished the regular-season 37-3 overall and won its fourth-straight MIAA regular-season championship.
Trine will face Thomas More in the first round of the NCAA Regionals this Friday, May 8 at DePuaw University in Greencastle, Ind. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
DePauw and Washington-St. Louis make up the other half of the regional bracket. The tournament follows double-elimination format.
