-- Story provided by Trine University Athletics --
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Debbie Hill has been named the 2023 TUCCI/NFCA Division III Freshman of the Year, the Association announced on Tuesday afternoon. She becomes the first member of the Trine University softball team to earn the national honor.
Hill, a first-team NFCA All-Region selection at the Utility/Pitcher spot in Region VII, has had a stellar freshman season for the Thunder, who she has helped win 17 straight games and advance to the NCAA Division III Championship later this week in Marshall, Texas. This is the second-straight appearance in the Division III final eight for Trine. The team finished national runners-up during last year's trip
Earlier this season, Hill was named a first-team member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's All-MIAA selections. She was also named Most Outstanding Player at both the Angola, Indiana Regional and Super Regional as Trine won their way through the NCAA tournament
For the NCAA tournament, Hill has a combined .571 average, two doubles, five RBI and four walks in five games on offense, while collecting two victories in two starts in the circle, with just six hits allowed over 11.1 innings, one walk and 16 strikeouts. In her NCAA tournament debut on May 18 against Waynesburg, she combined with junior Alexis Michon on a no-hitter and fanned seven Yellow Jacket batters over the first five innings.
For the season, Hill is 11-3 in 19 pitching appearances, with a save, three complete games, 54 hits, 13 earned runs, 12 walks, 105 strikeouts and a 1.08 ERA over 84 innings. Meanwhile, she is hitting .447 with 55 hits, 17 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 50 RBI, 34 walks, a .935 slugging percentage and a .566 on-base average.
She entered the postseason nationally ranked in several statistical categories, including ERA, hits allowed per game, strikeout-to-walk ratio, strikeouts per game and WHIP, and is also among the country's most prolific power hitters.
The Thunder are scheduled to begin competition at Bell Park at Taylor Field on the campus of East Texas Baptist University, the final site of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship, on Thursday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m. CT / 7:30 p.m. ET. They will face Rowan University.
