Cougars deliver win No. 900 for Thompson

Cougars deliver win No. 900 for Thompson
March 7, 2024

CLERMONT, Fla. – Spring Arbor University head softball coach Deb Thompson secured her 900th career victory on Thursday as the Cougars picked up a pair of wins, defeating Bellevue University 3-0 and Dordt University 4-1.

Thompson, now in her 38th season leading the Cougars, becomes the sixth coach in NAIA history to reach the 900-win milestone.

 

VS. BELLEVUE

SCORE: Spring Arbor 3, Bellevue 0

LOCATION: Clermont, Fla.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 6-4, Bellevue 7-9

  

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

  • Emmalee Hamp was spectacular in the circle against Bellevue. The senior pitcher authored a complete game shutout allowing just one hit while striking out 11 batters.
  • Hamp also got the job done at the plate, blasting a two-run home run in the third inning.
  • The Cougars added another run in the fourth on an RBI single by Brooke Meeker. 

 

VS. DORDT

SCORE: Spring Arbor 4, Dordt 1

LOCATION: Clermont, Fla.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 7-4, Dordt 9-12

  

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

  • Spring Arbor got another outstanding pitching performance in its second game of the day from Elena Jones. After surrendering a run in the first inning, Jones settled in and blanked Dordt over the final six frames to help Thompson secure her 900th career coaching victory.
  • Grace Lentz had an RBI double in the third inning to tie the score.
  • Summer Ambler gave the Cougars the lead in the fifth with a two-RBI single, and Tiffany Keller added an RBI hit in the sixth inning.
  • Ambler and Lentz finished with two hits apiece while Hamp scored twice.
  • Jones pitched all seven innings allowing one run on three hits and fanned six. 

 

COACH THOMPSON WINS #900

  • Thompson, now in her 38th season leading the Cougars, owns a career coaching record of 900-885-1 – all at SAU.
  • She is the all-time wins leader in Spring Arbor softball history and ranks sixth on the NAIA Winningest Active Softball Head Coaches list.
  • Her resume includes 16 winning seasons, including nine 30-win seasons and one 40-win season – the 2005 campaign which culminated with SAU capturing the NCCAA national championship.
  • In addition to her 900 wins as the softball coach, Thompson also owns 89 wins while leading the Spring Arbor volleyball program for four seasons from 1985-88, giving her 989 total career coaching victories.

  

UP NEXT

Spring Arbor closes out its time in Florida with games against Judson University and Dordt on Friday, Mar. 8.