WIAC Women's Softball Athletes of the Week

Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Women's Softball
Athletes of the Week

Week of April 20 - 26
Position
Rachel Mathias, Senior (Ripon), Leftfield of UW-River Falls
Mathias helped the Falcons to five wins in six games during the week after batting .438 (7-for-16) with three home runs, 10 RBI and four runs scored. She also walked four times, while compiling a .550 on-base percentage and 1.000 slugging percentage. She hit a game-winning, three-run homer in the eighth inning in an 8-5 victory over UW-Oshkosh on April 24. In the team’s 5-1 win over UW-Stevens Point on April 25, she hit a grand slam in the second inning to give the Falcons a 4-0 advantage. Trailing 3-0 against Hamline University (Minn.) on April 23, Mathias led off the seventh inning with a solo homer to leftfield and the Falcons won the game in the ninth inning.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Aleisha Harper, Freshman, Secondbase, Mondovi (Eau Claire North)
UW-La Crosse, Jenna Ahnen, Sophomore, Shortstop, Sparta
UW-Oshkosh, Whitney Tornow, Junior, Outfield, Neenah
UW-Platteville, Tera Burr, Senior, Secondbase, Shawano
UW-Stevens Point, Sarah Butts, Sophomore, Outfield, Greenfield
UW-Stout, Nelly Peterson, Senior, Catcher, Cumberland
UW-Whitewater, Amy Gahl, Senior, Outfield, Beloit (Orfordville Parkview)

Pitcher
Jessica Stang, Sophomore (Minnetonka, Minn.), Lefthanded Pitcher of UW-Whitewater
Stang posted a 3-0 record with two saves as UW-Whitewater won all five of its games during the week and claimed its second straight WIAC championship. Against UW-Oshkosh on April 22, she threw a complete game in a 8-1 victory and scattered five hits, allowed one run (unearned) and struck out five batters. In the second game against the Titans, she pitched the final three innings to earn a save in a 3-2 triumph. Facing UW-Eau Claire on April 24, Stang tossed a complete game in a 4-0 Warhawk victory. She scattered three hits and struck out five batters. Stang earned a save in the second game against the Blugolds, pitching the final two innings in a 2-0 triumph. Against Alma College (Mich.) on April 25, she fired another complete-game shutout in a 1-0 win, allowing just three hits and striking out seven batters. Stang’s weekly totals included 26 innings pitched, 23 strikeouts, two runs allowed (one earned), a 0.27 earned run average and opponents batted .111 against her.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Bri Sturm, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Zumbrota, Minn. (Zumbrota-Mazeppa)
UW-La Crosse, Kaylyn Von Glahn, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, De Soto
UW-River Falls, Rose Tusa, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Roseville, Minn. (St. Anthony Village)
UW-Stevens Point, Kayla Kastenmeier, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Ashwaubenon
UW-Stout, Laura Vanderhoof, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Zumbrota, Minn. (Zumbrota-Mazeppa)

Week of April 13 - 19
Position
Mindy Rudiger, Senior (Menomonie), Shortstop of UW-River Falls
Rudiger was one of the team’s top hitters in six WIAC games last week. She compiled 11 hits in 20 at-bats for a .550 batting average. Rudiger had eight runs scored, eight RBI, three doubles and one home run. Against UW-Platteville on April 18, she went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, four RBI and belted a three-run home run. In the six games, she also walked three times, had a .609 on-base percentage and a .850 slugging percentage. Rudiger had multiple hits in four contests.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Ainsley Klar, Junior, Thirdbase, La Crosse (Aquinas)
UW-La Crosse, Jenna Ahnen, Sophomore, Shortstop, Sparta
UW-Oshkosh, Sydnee Wyss, Sophomore, Shortstop, Monroe
UW-Platteville, Tera Burr, Senior, Secondbase, Shawano
UW-Stevens Point, Brittany Zelenka, Junior, Firstbase, Marathon
UW-Stout, Kristy Hoffman, Junior, Designated Player, Circle Pines, Minn. (Centennial)
UW-Whitewater, Suzanne Gersich, Senior, Outfield, Wadsworth, Ill. (Warren)

Pitcher
Kaylyn Von Glahn, Senior (De Soto), Righthanded Pitcher of UW-La Crosse
Von Glahn went 2-0 with a 2.19 earned run average in four appearances last week for UW-La Crosse. She earned wins over UW-River Falls on April 17 and UW-Stout on April 18. Von Glahn pitched a complete game in the victory over the Falcons, going 7.0 innings, allowing three hits and two unearned runs while striking out four. She then went 4.0 innings in the win over the Blue Devils, allowing one hit and one walk with three strikeouts. For the week, she pitched 16.0 innings, allowing 12 hits, seven runs (five earned) and two walks with nine strikeouts.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Ashley Meinen, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Chippewa Falls (McDonell)
UW-Oshkosh, Lauren Roberts, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Denmark
UW-Platteville, Renee Schuttler, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Monroe
UW-River Falls, Rose Tusa, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Roseville, Minn. (St. Anthony Village)
UW-Stout, Kristy Hoffman, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Circle Pines, Minn. (Centennial)
UW-Whitewater, Jessica Stang, Sophomore, Lefthanded Pitcher, Minnetonka, Minn.

Week of April 6 - 12
Position
Whitney Tornow, Junior (Neenah), Outfield of UW-Oshkosh
Tornow went an impressive 13-for-20 (.650) at the plate with nine RBI and eight runs scored to lead UW-Oshkosh to doubleheader sweeps of UW-Superior, UW-Platteville and Ripon College. Tornow, who tallied at least two hits in four of the six contests, compiled a slugging percentage of 1.200 and an on-base percentage of .720. Her statistical totals also included two home runs, five doubles and one stolen base. In UW-Oshkosh wins of 9-3 and 13-4 over UW-Superior on April 8, Tornow went a combined 2-for-5 at the plate with one RBI and four runs scored. Tornow when went a combined 5-for-8 at the plate with two home runs and six RBI to lead the Titans to wins of 7-4 and 5-3 over UW-Platteville on April 10. She smashed a three-run home run in the 7-4 victory and a two-run home run in the 5-3 triumph. Against Ripon College on April 11, Tornow led UW-Oshkosh to wins of 5-0 and 5-4 by going a combined 6-for-7 at the plate with five doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. In the 5-4 win, Tornow sent the game to extra play by hitting a two-strike, two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Titans won the game in the ninth inning, but after Tornow was intentionally walked with two outs and a runner on first base in the frame. Tornow, who counted 11 hits (five doubles and two home runs) in her last 15 at-bats of the week, owns an 11-game hitting streak.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Sara Baumgartner, Sophomore, Centerfield, Arcadia
UW-La Crosse, Jenna Ahnen, Sophomore, Shortstop, Sparta
UW-River Falls, Sarah Fern, Freshman, Infielder, Brooklyn Center, Minn. (Park Center)
UW-Stevens Point, Samantha Bizeau, Sophomore, Secondbase/Outfield, Gladstone, Mich.
UW-Stout, Kelly Conway, Sophomore, Shortstop, La Crescent, Minn. (La Crosse Aquinas)
UW-Whitewater, Suzanne Gersich, Senior, Outfield, Wadsworth, Ill. (Warren)

Pitcher
Jessica Stang, Sophomore (Minnetonka, Minn.), Lefthanded Pitcher of UW-Whitewater
In five appearances during the week, Stang compiled a 3-0 record with a pair of saves. She pitched 20.0 innings, scattered seven hits and allowed just one unearned run, while striking out 28 batters. In a 5-1 triumph over No. 19-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University on April 10, Stang tossed a complete game, struck out 11 batters and allowed three base hits. She also tossed a three-hitter in a 9-0 five-inning, complete-game win over UW-Stevens Point on April 8. Against UW-Platteville on April 7, she allowed just one hit and recorded eight strikeouts in a 10-0 five-inning, complete-game victory. Stang earned saves against the University of Dubuque (Iowa) on April 9 and Illinois Wesleyan on April 10.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Jenny Ross, Sophomore, Lefthanded Pitcher, Mendota Heights, Minn. (Henry Sibley)
UW-La Crosse, Kaylyn Von Glahn, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, DeSoto
UW-Oshkosh, Lauren Roberts, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Denmark
UW-River Falls, Jamie Klein, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Elk River, Minn.

Week of March 30 - April 5
Position
Amy Gahl, Senior (Beloit/Orfordville Parkview), Outfield of UW-Whitewater
Gahl compiled a .714 batting average (10-for-14) in four UW-Whitewater victories during the week. She had multiple hits in all four games and had two doubles, one home run, nine runs scored and seven RBI. In a12-0 five-inning win against UW-Stout on April 3, she was 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. She also had three hits in a 7-3 win at UW-River Falls on April 4.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Katie Stalker, Junior, Secondbase/Shortstop, Madison (La Follette)
UW-La Crosse, Jenna Ahnen, Sophomore, Shortstop, Sparta
UW-Oshkosh, Whitney Tornow, Junior, Outfield, Neenah
UW-Platteville, Tera Burr, Senior, Secondbase, Shawano
UW-River Falls, Rachel Mathias, Senior, Leftfield, Ripon
UW-Stevens Point, Jessica Berger, Junior, Shortstop, Bonduel
UW-Stout, Nelly Peterson, Senior, Catcher, Cumberland

Pitcher
Jessica Stang, Sophomore (Minnetonka, Minn.), Lefthanded Pitcher of UW-Whitewater
Stang compiled a 2-0 record with one save during the week. In a 12-0 five-inning triumph over UW-Stout on April 3, she pitched 4.0 innings, recorded eight strikeouts and had a perfect game going until allowing a single in the fourth inning. Against UW-River Falls on April 4, Stang tossed a complete-game shutout, allowed just two hits and had eight strikeouts. She also earned a save in the second game against Falcons, pitching the final 2.1 innings of the game. On the week, Stang pitched 13.1 innings and had 19 strikeouts, while allowing just three hits and no runs.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Jenny Ross, Sophomore, Lefthanded Pitcher, Mendota Heights, Minn. (Henry Sibley)
UW-La Crosse, Lacey Probst, Freshman, Lefthanded Pitcher, Menasha
UW-Oshkosh, Lauren Roberts, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Denmark
UW-Stevens Point, Kayla Kastenmeier, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Ashwaubenon

Week of March 23 - 29
Position
Suzanne Gersich, Senior (Wadsworth, Ill./Warren), Outfield of UW-Whitewater
In six games played during UW-Whitewater’s spring trip to Florida, Gersich collected nine hits in 15 at-bats (.600) with three triples, one home run, one double, six RBI and five runs scored. She posted a slugging percentage of 1.267 and hit safely in five of the six contests. Gersich had 3-for-3 performances against Wellesley College (Mass.) on March 24 and Eastern Connecticut State University on March 27.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Sara Baumgartner, Sophomore, Centerfield, Arcadia
UW-La Crosse, Jenna Ahnen, Sophomore, Shortstop, Sparta
UW-Oshkosh, Lisa Hart, Freshman, Outfield, Oshkosh (West)
UW-Platteville, Tera Burr, Senior, Secondbase, Shawano
UW-River Falls, Mindy Rudiger, Senior, Shortstop, Menomonie

Pitcher
Jessica Stang, Sophomore (Minnetonka, Minn.), Lefthanded Pitcher of UW-Whitewater
Stang compiled a 3-0 record during the week with three complete games, including a one-hitter and two-hitter. Against Wellesley College (Mass.) on March 24, she allowed just one hit and struck out 11 batters in a 9-1 five-inning triumph. Against Buffalo State College (N.Y.) on March 26, Stang had 12 strikeouts in a 6-4 win. She allowed just two hits against Eastern Connecticut State University on March 25. In 17.0 innings pitched during the week, Stang struck out 29 batters and allowed 14 hits and three earned runs with a 1.24 earned run average.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Ashley Meinen, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Chippewa Falls (McDonell)
UW-La Crosse, Kaylyn Von Glahn, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, DeSoto
UW-Oshkosh, Brynn Wessberg, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Wales (Kettle Moraine)
UW-Platteville, Courtney Ryan, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Grayslake, Ill. (Carmel Catholic)
UW-River Falls, Jamie Klein, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Elk River, Minn.

Week of March 9 - 22
Position
Becky Crane, Senior (Altoona), Shortstop of UW-Superior
In 14 games played on UW-Superior’s spring trip in Fort Myers, Fla., Crane compiled 23 hits in 49 at-bats for a .469 batting average and .509 on-base percentage. She had five doubles, two triples, one home run, scored 21 runs and had nine RBI and seven stolen bases. Crane hit safely in 12 of the 14 contests and had eight multi-hit performances, including a four-hit game against Franklin & Marshall College (Pa.) on March 19.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Katie Stalker, Junior, Secondbase/Shortstop, Madison (La Follette)
UW-La Crosse, Jenna Ahnen, Sophomore, Shortstop, Sparta
UW-Oshkosh, Whitney Tornow, Junior, Outfield, Neenah
UW-Platteville, Tera Burr, Senior, Secondbase, Shawano
UW-River Falls, Jessica Lundgren, Junior, Centerfield, St. Croix Falls
UW-Stevens Point, Lauren Watkins, Sophomore, Firstbase, Baraboo
UW-Stout, Katie Fichter, Senior, Outfield, Baraboo
UW-Whitewater, Ashley Smith, Senior, Secondbase, Elgin, Ill. (St. Edward Catholic)

Pitcher
Kayla Kastenmeier, Junior (Ashwaubenon), Righthanded Pitcher of UW-Stevens Point
Kastenmeier posted a 6-2 record in eight appearances during UW-Stevens Point’s spring trip to Kissimmee, Fla. She tossed three complete games, including a 7-0 one-hit shutout over Washington & Jefferson College (Pa.) on March 15. She also earned wins over Loras College (Iowa), Westminster College (Mo.), Fontbonne University (Mo.), Nazareth College (N.Y.) and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In 49.1 innings pitched, Kastenmeier struck out 41 batters and allowed seven walks with an earned run average of 2.19.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Jenny Ross, Sophomore, Lefthanded Pitcher, Mendota Heights, Minn. (Henry Sibley)
UW-Oshkosh, Lauren Roberts, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Denmark
UW-River Falls, Jamie Klein, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Elk River, Minn.
UW-Stout, Kristy Hoffman, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Circle Pines, Minn. (Centennial)
UW-Superior, Kalli Kucharyski, Sophomore, Righthanded Pitcher, Superior
UW-Whitewater, Jessica Stang, Sophomore, Lefthanded Pitcher, Minnetonka, Minn.

Week of Feb. 16 - March 8
Position
Nelly Peterson, Senior (Cumberland), Firstbase of UW-Stout
Peterson has helped the Blue Devils to a 4-2 record in their first six games. She wielded a hot bat, hitting .611 (11-for-18) with a double, two home runs (including a grand slam against Augsburg College) and 11 RBI. Peterson hit safely in all six games, including 3-for-3 against Northwestern College (Minn.) on Feb. 26, and had two hits in three games. She has delivered at least one RBI in five of six contests. Peterson also had one stolen base.

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Kim Pietrowiak, Senior, Outfield, Germantown
UW-Oshkosh, Melinda Wulf, Freshman, Catcher, New London
UW-River Falls, Mindy Rudiger, Senior, Shortstop, Menomonie
UW-Stevens Point, Elyse Nelson, Sophomore, Firstbase, Batavia, Ill.

Pitcher
Heather Schultz, Sophomore (Annandale, Minn.), Righthanded Pitcher of UW-La Crosse
Schultz went 4-0 to start the season with a 0.00 earned run average. She combined on a no-hitter in a 10-0 victory over Minnesota-Morris on Feb. 2. Schultz pitched a complete game in a 2-0 win over Marian University (Wis.) on March 1, allowing three hits while striking out 11. She had a complete game (5.0 innings) in a 10-0 win over St. Olaf College (Minn.) on March 5, allowing six hits with 10 strikeouts. In four appearances, she has 20.0 innings pitched, 11 hits allowed, no runs allowed and one walk while striking out 32.

Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Brynn Wessberg, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Wales (Kettle Moraine)
UW-Stevens Point, Kayla Kastenmeier, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Ashwaubenon
UW-Stout, Laura Vanderhoof, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Mankato, Minn. (East)

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