NASHVILLE – The Trevecca Nazarene University softball team (30-10, 12-2 Great Midwest) swept Malone University (18-10, 4-6 Great Midwest) at the Trevecca Softball Complex on Friday.
The Trojans are in top form, having won 16 of their last 18 games bolstering them up the Great Midwest standings. In February, Trevecca produced a six-game winning streak, while March brought an eight-game streak.
Trevecca owns a 13-5 lead in the all-time series with Malone which was reunited regularly when the Pioneers joined the Great Midwest prior to the 2016-17 season.
30 WIN CLUB
Coach Ben Tyree has produced at least 30 wins in 11 of his 16 seasons. Tyree has three other teams with at least 27 wins. Each of his 16 teams have produced a winning record.
The Trevecca softball program has won 30 or more games in 17 of its 33 seasons with two additional seasons ending in 29 wins.
Today's 30th win of the season marks the second fastest to 30 wins in the NCAA Division II Era for Tyree and the Trojans. Only the 2015 squad reached 30 wins quicker than the 2024 squad who tied the 2014 team in the span.
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Ashlan Sensing collected her 15th complete game of the season which ranks #9 in the nation. More impressively, Sensing is #6 in both strikeouts (159) and shutouts (7) on the national stage.
Kendall Andrews joins Sensing in the national rankings near the top of the country in #3 RBI (56), #4 stolen bases (34) and #9 in total bases (105).
HOW IT HAPPENED
GM 1: TNU 8, MU 0 – F/5
A pair of two-run home runs by Sydney McCormick and Malone Thrift lifted the Trojans to a quick 8-0 win over the Pioneers in game one. McCormick went yard in the bottom of the second as part of a four-run frame.
Anna Bennett doubled in a run and starting pitcher
Ashlan Sensing helped her cause with an RBI single. The third inning saw Thrift send a ball over the centerfield wall to kick start another four-run inning.
Annabelle Ellis and
Kyleigh Burgett both drew bases loaded walks to help Trevecca to the 8-0 win.
CIRCLE AND BOX NOTES
* Seven different Trojans collected at least one hit, combining for seven.
* Anna Bennett went 1-1 with two runs scored, two walks and an RBI.
* Sydney McCormick was 1-1 with a run scored, two RBIs and a walk.
* Malone Thrift went 1-1 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.
* Ashlan Sensing (15-6) started and went the full five innings. Sensing allowed just two hits while striking out eight in the complete game shutout.
* Sensing leads the Great Midwest in strikeouts, wins and innings pitched.
* This was the 11th shutout as well as the 11th run-shortened game of the season.
GM 2: TNU 10, MU 2 – F/6
The Trojans spread the scoring in game two over four innings.
Ashlan Sensing reached on a fielder's choice which allowed
Kendall Andrews to score the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. Malone received a solo home run to left field to tie the game in the second before the Trojans added two more in the bottom half of the inning.
Anna Bennett doubled to right center field to score two which became the game winning run.
Sydney McCormick hit her second home run of the day in the bottom of the third to give the Trojans a 5-1 advantage. An RBI single by the Pioneers in the fourth closed their scoring as the Trojans finished the job in the bottom of the sixth. A five-run inning bookended by home runs sealed the Trojans 10-2 win.
CIRCLE AND BOX NOTES
* Eight different Trojans collected at least one hit, combining for 11.
* Anna Bennett went 3-4 with three RBIs and a run scored.
* Sydney McCormick was 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
* Kendall Andrews drew a pair of walks and scored three runs.
* Alex Behnke started and went 3.1 innings, allowing three hits and two runs.
Halle Grace Patton (8-2) came on for 2.2 innings of relief to collect the win by striking out three.
* This was the 12th run-shortened game of the season and second of the day.
NEXT ON THE DIAMOND
The Trojans host Walsh University (6-18, 1-3 Great Midwest) tomorrow afternoon to close out the weekend.
First pitch with the Cavaliers is set for 1:00 p.m. Trevecca leads the all-time series with Walsh 11-2 with both losses by a margin of two or less runs. The Trojans have won three straight against the Cavaliers and nine of the last 10.
