NASHVILLE – The 2024 season was one of new heights for the Trevecca Nazarene University softball team as the Trojans reached the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in school history
The team eventually earned a NFCA Top 25 ranking late in the season and are the No. 16 team in the final NFCA ranking of the 2024 season.
Despite falling just short in the final Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament, the Trojans pieced together an impressive run at the Midwest Regionals and advanced further than any softball team had before as one of the final 16 teams in the nation.
With the Trojans transitioning to the Gulf South Conference for all competitions next season, here's a look back at the 2024 season, it's highlights and records as well as awards.
2024 SEASON IN A LINK
Trojans Add Ten in NCAA Signing Period
Trojans Second in Great Midwest Preseason Coaches' Poll
Kendall Andrews on 2024 Tucci/NFCA D2 Player of the Year Watchlist
2024 Trojans Making and Breaking Records in #MASHVILLE
Trojans Get Third 40+ Win Season in D2 Era, Sixth Regular Season League Title
Six Trojans Bringing Home Great Midwest All-Conference Hardware
Ben Tyree is 2024 Great Midwest Coach of the Year; Fifth Time
Trojans #2 Seed at NCAA Midwest Regional; Hosting Midwest #2 Site
Trojans Win Program's First-Ever Midwest Regional, On to Super Regionals
Four More Honors for the Trojans; D2CCA Midwest All-Region
Two Trojans Earn NFCA All-American Honors
Trojans Andrews and Sensing Make 2024 D2CCA All-American
PRESEASON COACHES POLL | SECOND
The Trevecca softball team was voted as the No. 2 team, with six first-place votes, in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll Presented by Under Armour.
The Trojans gained 168 votes, seven behind preseason favorite Hillsdale College. Ohio Dominican picked up 165 votes, two first place votes, to place third.
The Trojans began receiving votes in the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) Top 25 with the outlet's Week 10 poll and have remained since. After Week 12, the Trojans reached No. 22 entering the Great Midwest Athletic Conference's tournament and were No. 21 after the tournament.
The Trojans are No. 16 in the final NFCA poll of the season.
SEASON NOTES
Trevecca went 15-1 at home this season and 14-5 on the road. Making them 18-9 in neutral site games.
Trevecca opened the season at the UAH Charger Chillout and picked up an early significant win, upsetting the host and the then No. 12 Alabama Huntsville Chargers. TNU went 3-1 over the two-day event which has become a season opening tradition for the Trojans. Their only loss came to then nationally-ranked and current No. 4 Mississippi College.
Next, the Trojans hosted their annual Music City Invitational. The Trojans went 3-1, losing a 1-0 heartbreaker to Drury, then rolling out three straight to close the event.
After a pair of 8-0 wins over Quincy University on campus, the Trojans headed to the Blue Bridge Classic hosted by Kentucky Wesleyan. The Trojans split their four games there, taking a loss to nationally ranked and current No. 2 Indianapolis. The Trojans headed to Jackson, Tenn. to face the former TranSouth/NAIA and future Gulf South Conference foe Union University. The Bulldogs and Trojans split the doubleheader.
The PFX The Spring Games were next, with the Trojans going 5-3 on the trip.
Conference season opened in Ashland, Ohio with a pair of wins over the Ashland Eagles. The Trojans split their doubleheader at Ohio Dominican Univ. for a 3-1 Great Midwest opening weekend road trip.
The Trojans went back to a non-conference doubleheader, again with a former TranSouth/NAIA and future Gulf South Conference foe, at Lee University. The Trojans took two from the Flames.
The next 22 were all in league play starting with four-straight on the Hill. Trevecca took all four, two from Ursuline College and Lake Erie College.
A four-game road trip to Northwood University and Hillsdale College resulted in a split at Northwood and a pair of run-rule wins against the preseason favorite Chargers.
A ten-game home stand followed with the Trojans winning the first nine, taking two from Malone University, Walsh University, Kentucky Wesleyan, and Tiffin University. Trevecca won the first game against the University of Findlay, but the Oilers rallied in the seventh to beat the Trojans, ending their 11-game winning streak.
The final four of the regular season were on the road at Thomas More Univ. and Cedarville Univ., with the Trojans winning all four. After finishing the Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament 2-2, the Trojans swept through the NCAA Midwest Regionals outscoring their competition 18-3 over three games.
For the first time in school history, the Trojans made the Midwest Super Regionals and ran out of power against the second ranked team in the nation, the University of Indianapolis. Trevecca forced a decisive game three in the series that was delayed due to inclement weather but fell short in the end.
GREAT MIDWEST CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Trevecca won the first four Great Midwest Athletic regular-season titles and postseason championships and then added a fifth title in 2021 with a sixth coming in 2024. Trevecca finished the season as the No. 2 team in the NCAA Midwest Region.
NCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL HISTORY
The Trojans were the first Great Midwest team to reach the region level and also are the first to win games at the NCAA level.
Trevecca is 9-6 all-time in NCAA Region play. Trevecca is 9-6 all-time in Midwest Regional play.
In 2024, the Trojans swept through their three games at the NCAA Midwest Regional, outscoring their competition 18-3 over trio of games, earning the program's first-ever trip the Super Regional.
In 2021 Trevecca reached the Midwest Regional at Grand Valley State University, going 2-2 at their third regional appearance.
A season later, the 2016 Trevecca squad bested UIndy to open the regional tournament before falling to Grand Valley State University in two of three games.
The Trojans bowed out of their first-ever regional tournament with a 2-2 record, both losses coming at the hands of the Hounds.
YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD AT MIDWEST REGIONALS
2024 = 3-0
2021 = 2-2
2016 = 2-2
2015 = 2-2
ALL-TIME TREVECCA NOTES
The Trojans recorded their 24th consecutive winning season, dating back to the 2000-2001 season. The first winning season came in the Trojans first season, 22-20, in 1991-1992, but next winning season didn't come until the 2000-2001 season and the program continues that winning tradition again with the 2023-24 season.
This is the twelfth season for Trevecca with an NCAA Division II schedule.
996-589-3 All-time Record (NAIA/NCAA – 33 Seasons)
395-174 Overall – NCAA Era (12 years)
39-24 Postseason – NCAA Era (12 years)
50-win Seasons – 2
40-win Seasons – 8
30-Win Seasons – 17
30-Win Season in NCAA Div. II Era (12 years) – 8
AWARDS AND HONORS
GREAT MIDWEST ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
ASHLAN SENSING 2024 AWARDS
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D2CCA
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All-American 2nd Team
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May 23, 2024
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NFCA
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All-American 2nd Team
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May 22, 2024
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D2CCA
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1st Team
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May 13, 2024
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G-MAC
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1st Team All-Conference
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May 1, 2024
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G-MAC
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Pitcher of the Year
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May 1, 2024
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TSWA
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Pitcher of the Week
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April 10, 2024
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G-MAC
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Pitcher of the Week
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April 8, 2024
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G-MAC
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Pitcher of the Week
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March 25, 2024
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TSWA
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Pitcher of the Week
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March 13, 2024
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G-MAC
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Pitcher of the Week
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March 12, 2024
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TSWA
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Pitcher of the Week
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Feb. 21, 2024
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G-MAC
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Pitcher of the Week
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Feb. 19, 2024
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*D2CCA = Div. II Conference Commissioners Association
*NFCA = National Fastpitch Coaches Assoc.
*G-MAC Great Midwest Athletic Conference
*TSWA = Tennessee Sports Writer's Association
SYDNEY MCCORMICK 2024 AWARDS
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G-MAC
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All-Conference 2nd Team
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May 1, 2024
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TSWA
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Player of the Week
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April 10, 2024
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G-MAC
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Player of the Week
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April 8, 2024
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*D2CCA = Div. II Conference Commissioners Association
*NFCA = National Fastpitch Coaches Assoc.
*G-MAC Great Midwest Athletic Conference
*TSWA = Tennessee Sports Writer's Association
KENDALL ANDREWS 2024 AWARDS
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D2CCA
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Catcher of the Year
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May 23, 2024
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D2CCA
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All-American First Team
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May 23, 2024
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NFCA
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Catcher of the Year
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May 22, 2024
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NFCA
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All-American First Team
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May 22, 2024
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D2CCA
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All-Region 1st Team
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May 13, 2024
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G-MAC
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All-Conference 1st Team
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May 1, 2024
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G-MAC
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Player of the Year
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May 1, 2024
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NFCA
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Tucci Player of the Year Watch List
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March 28, 2024
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NFCA
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Athlete of the Week
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March 26, 2024
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G-MAC
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Athlete of the Week
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March 25, 2024
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NFCA
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Athlete of the Week
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March 20, 2024
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G-MAC
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Athlete of the Week
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March 18, 2024
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*D2CCA = Div. II Conference Commissioners Association
*NFCA = National Fastpitch Coaches Assoc.
*G-MAC Great Midwest Athletic Conference
*TSWA = Tennessee Sports Writer's Association
BEN TYREE BY THE NUMBERS
Ben Tyree completed his 16th year leading the Trevecca softball program. The veteran coach owns eleven 30-win seasons, eight in the Div. II Era.
Tyree holds the most wins in Trevecca history and has more Great Midwest Conference wins than any other coach in league history.
Overall: 548-233-2
Conference: 253-68-1 (184-51 Great Midwest)
Postseason: 58-32 (39-24 Div. II Era)
500-wins – in 2023
400-wins – in 2020
30-win Seasons – 11
40-win Seasons – 5
His teams have won the regular season conference championship nine times and the postseason conference tournament six times.
Fifteen of his 16 seasons have produced 21 wins or more.
*2020 season 15-3 due to the COVID-19
Great Midwest Coach of the Year – six times
Coach of the Year – nine times (w/ NAIA years)
TEAM NEWS AND NOTES
#21 NCAA Div. II National Rankings
#7 Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio
#8 Fielding %
#16 Walks
#18 WHIP (Walks and Hits Per Inning Pitched)
TEAM TREVECCA NCAA ERA RANKINGS
Offensively, the team is putting up some of the best numbers of any NCAA-era Trevecca team.
Team 33 has the most walks in school history and was second in runs scored. They are second in RBI and doubles while they produced the third most triples as well as stolen bases. Collectively they are second in hits and fourth in home runs.
In the circle, the pitching staff has combined to put up impressive numbers.
The 33rd Purple and White team produced the most strikeouts and tied the 2016 squad for most shutouts. The hurlers just surpassed the most innings pitched as well by tossing 0.2 innings more than the 2016 side while putting up the fourth best earned run average.
Defensively, the team has the best-ever fielding percentage in the NCAA era at .975, only the 2015 team collected a fielding percentage of .970 of higher at .973.
NCAA SEASON RANKINGS
Kendall Andrews
#5 Stolen Bases
#6 Walks
#14 Stolen Base %
#16 RBI
Ashlan Sensing
#3 Complete Games
#4 Shutouts
#6 Victories
#10 Strikeouts
#11 Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio
#15 Earned Run Average
#16 WHIP
Anna Bennett
#19 Triples
Halle Grace Patton
#5 Walks Allowed Per 7 Innings
NCAA ACTIVE CAREER RANKINGS
*All active NCAA Division II softball players
Kendall Andrews
#13 Stolen Bases
Ashlan Sensing
#8 Shutouts
#13 Earned Run Average
#15 Complete Games
#18 Victories
GREAT MIDWEST TEAM SEASON STATISTICAL RANKINGS
#1 Wins (47) *Previous Record – 2016 Trojans (45)
#1 Walks (194) *Ties 2023 Northwood with 194
#2 RBI (308)
#2 Runs Scored (356)
#2 Strikeouts (355)
#5 Home Runs (42)
#5 Stolen Bases (103)
#6 On Base % (.393)
#6 Triples (14)
#7 Opponents' Batting Average (.239)
GREAT MIDWEST – SEASON – RECORDS ALREADY BROKEN, UNDER PRESSURE
Kendall Andrews
#1 Walks - 51 *Previous Record - 30 - Katie Chryssofos (Salem / 2016), Trevecca alum Ansley Brantley (2016), and Kendall Andrews (2023)
#1 RBI - 66 *Previous Record - Katie Chryssofos (Salem / 61 / 2016)
#1 Total Bases - 137 *Previous Record - Sam Catron (Hillsdale / 129)
Andrews Approaching
#2 Home Runs - 15 *Record 19
#2 Runs Scored - 59 *Record 76
#2 Stolen Bases - 49 *Record 51 – Trevecca alum and future Hall of Famer MaKray Odom
Anna Bennett
#3 Triples (6)
Ashlan Sensing
#2 Wins (26) *Record 36 (Haley Fagan)
#3 Strikeouts 247 *Record 295 (Haley Fagan)
GREAT MIDWEST CAREER RECORDS TESTED
Kendall Andrews
#1 RBI – 138
#1 Slugging % - .739
#1 On-Base % - .494
#2 Triples - 13 *Record 18
#2 Stolen Bases - 107 *Record 118
#2 Walks - 94 *Record 100
#2 Home Runs - 32 *Record 41
#3 Runs - 134 *Record 166
Anna Bennett
#1 Total Bases – 327
#2 Hits - 224 *Record 252
#2 Triples - 13 *Record 18
#2 Walks - 68 *Record 100
#3 Runs - 138 *Record 166
#3 At Bats - 590 *Record 634
#3 Doubles - 45 *Record 51
#5 On-Base % - .445
#6 RBI – 111
#6 Slugging % - .561
Ashlan Sensing
#1 Shutouts – 26
#1 ERA – 1.45
#2 Strikeouts - 561 *Record 616 Haley Fagan
#3 Wins - 61 *Record 75 Haley Fagan
#3 Innings Pitched - 544.2 *Record 673.1
#3 Complete Games - 66 *Record 76 Haley Fagan
#4 Games Started - 85 *Record 102
TREVECCA SEASON & CAREER RECORDS / RANKINGS
KENDALL ANDREWS
CAREER
#1 Walks – 94 *Previous record 65 – Ansley Brantley
#1 Total Bases - 322 *Previous record 295 – Ansley Brantley
#2 Triples - 13 *Record 14 Lindsey Stephens
#3 Home runs – 32 *Record 36 Collins/Brantley (2nd 34 Zeis)
#3 XBH – 77 *Record 105 Zeis
#4 RBI 138 *Record 179 Zeis (3rd 145 Collins, 2nd 153 Lindsey Stephens)
#4 Stolen Bases 107 *Record Odom 142 (3rd 108 Brantley, 2nd 109 Lenna Robinson)
#4 Runs – 134 *Record 192 (Odom / 2nd Brantley 185/ 3rd 160 Zeis)
#5 Batting Average - .383 (Record MaKray Odom .483)
SEASON
#1 RBI – 66 *Previous Record 53 - Mary Collins
#1 Total Bases – 178 *Previous Record 124 Mary Collins
#1 Walks – 51 *Previous record 30 Mary Collins / Breanna Zeis
#1 XBH – 33 *Previous record 30 Mary Collins/Breanna Zeis
#2 HR – 15 *Record 19 Mary Collins
#2 SB – 49 *Record 50 MaKray Odom
#2 Runs – 59 *Record 76 Ansley Brantley
#3 Triples - 4 *Record 8 - Kendall Andrews
ANNA BENNETT
CAREER
#2 Triples – 13 *Record 14 Lindsey Stephens
#4 Runs – 138 *Record 192 Odom (3rd 160 Zeis)
#4 Hits – 224 *Record 347 Odom (2nd 241 Zeis, 3rd 239 Stephens)
#4 Doubles – 45 *Record 65 Zeis (3rd 51 Bailey Alexander)
#6 XBH - 70 *Breanna Zeis 105 (5th 76 Mary Collins, 4th Andrews 77, 3rd Brantley 78)
#6 Batting Average - .380
SEASON
#2 Triples - 6 *Record 8 Kendall Andrews (2023)
#2 Walks - 28 *Record 43 Kendall Andrews (2024 active)
#3 Runs – 57 *Record 76 Ansley Brantley (2nd 59)
ASHLAN SENSING
CAREER
#1 Shutouts – 26
#1 Earned Run Average - 1.45
#2 Wins - 61 *Record 75 Fagan
#2 Strikeouts – 561 *Record 617 Fagan
#2 Complete Games – 66 *Record 77 Fagan
#2 Innings Pitched - 544.2 *Record 655.1 Fagan
#3 Appearances – 98 *Record 111 Raygn Hall (2nd 107 Fagan)
SEASON
#1 Earned Run Average - 1.25 *Previous record 1.27 Ashlan Sensing
#2 Strikeouts – 247 *Record 295 Fagan
#2 Complete Games – 29 *Record 33 Fagan
#2 Innings Pitched – 218 *Record 312 Fagan
#2 Wins – 25-9 *Record 36-13 Fagan
ALEX BEHNKE
CAREER
#3 Saves – 4 *Record 8 Morgan Powell (2nd 5 Haley Fagan)
#3 Appearances – 93 *Record 111 Raygn Hall (2nd 107 Fagan)
#3 Wins – 40 *Record 75 Fagan (2nd 61 Sensing)
#4 Innings Pitched– 335
#6 Strikeouts – 183 *Record 612 Fagan (4th 195 Powell)
#6 Complete Games - 17
#7 Earned Run Average - 3.32
MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS
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