Eastern Michigan Athletics
Softball Lands Four on Academic All-MAC Squad
6/8/2011 11:22:12 AM | Softball
Gerber, Ignowski, Russ, and Skodinski are honored
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — Four members of the Eastern Michigan University softball team were named to the Mid-American Conference Academic All-MAC squad the conference office announced today, June 8.
Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) was just one of six players in the MAC to earn their second consecutive Academic All-MAC honors, while teammates Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles), McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover), and Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) earn their first Academic All-MAC award. Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy's Priory), Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles), and Lauren Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) were also considered, as they picked up honorable mention honors.
Gerber, a 3.70 Special Education major, played in 43 games in 2011, starting 37 behind the plate and five as the designated player. The junior cranked out 45 hits in 134 at bats for a .336 overall batting average and scored 19 times while connecting on 10 doubles and five home runs with 28 RBI. In MAC play, she owned a .381 clip with a .619 slugging percentage and a .426 on base percentage. Gerber was solid behind the plate, making just two errors all season for a .992 fielding percentage to improve her career percentage to .988, the second-best mark on the EMU all-time career list.
A 3.79 speech pathology major, Ignowksi earns her first Academic All-MAC award after an impressive season in the circle for the Green and White. A three-time MAC West Pitcher of the Week this season, she played in 28 games with a 13-7 overall mark. The Niles, Mich. native struck out 121 batters in 2011 for the sixth-most in the conference. He also recorded the Eagles' 12th no-hitter in program history in her 12-strikeout performance against WMU on April 2. She also tied the fourth most strikeouts in a game by any EMU pitcher with 12 against WMU and BGSU. The sophomore shut down opposing offenses as seen by her .232 opponent batting average and her 2.72 ERA.
Russ put together one of her most successful seasons in 2011. The 3.36 Communications Major was named All-MAC first team after posting a .415 overall batting average for the second best clip in the MAC and the second best mark in EMU softball program history. Russ connected on 49 hits with 11 doubles, two triples, and five home runs. The junior also recorded six multi-RBI games and 15 multi-hit games, nine of which were in MAC contests. A MAC West Player of the Week selection on April 5, Russ made history against Northern Illinois when she registered her 11th hit in as many plate appearances to tie the third best streak in the NCAA Division I record books for consecutive hits.
Quite possibly one of the most successful hitters in EMU softball history, Skodinski rounds out the Academic All-MAC team after completing a record-setting career for the Eagles. The 3.34 Secondary Education Major was named second team All-MAC after accumulating 49 hits for a .383 clip with a .333 mark in MAC play. The March 29 MAC West Player of the Week tied the EMU all-time career doubles record of 43 after cranking out 13 in 2011, and her 10 home runs put her second in EMU history with 25 career round-trippers. Skodinski led team with nine multi-RBI games during the 2011 campaign and registered 15 multi-hits games, four of which in MAC contests. She also boasted a team best .719 slugging percentage and .456 on-base percentage.
Caro overcame injuries to put together a solid senior campaign for the Green and White. The honorable mention selection posted a 3.60 GPA in Speech Language Pathology and will continue graduate studies at Arizona State University in the fall. She appeared in 15 games, starting eight in the circle and held opposing hitters to just a .223 average. Caro struck out 36 batters in 48 innings of work with a team-best 2.48 ERA. In MAC contests, she appeared in six games as a reliever, where she posted an impressive 1.45 ERA with a 2-1 record in the circle, including 13 strikeouts in 19.1 innings. Impressively, Caro did not give up a single home run in MAC contests and held hitters to just a .211 clip.
Coquillard, an honorable mention consideration and a 3.65 Communications major, started in all 44 games at second base. The sophomore had 10 multi-hit games, four of which were in MAC contests, and also owns eight multiple-RBI outings this season. Her 2011 campaign was highlighted by a career best five-RBI day against the No. 2-ranked Michigan for the second best single-game RBI effort in EMU softball history. The Niles, Mich. native also tallied 31 hits with eight doubles and four homeruns with 34 RBI for a .265 average. Coquillard also maintained a .294 clip in MAC games with six extra-base hits, and committed just two errors in MAC play for a .970 fielding percentage.
Rounding out the honorable mention honorees is Delapaz. A senior who maintained a 3.68 GPA in Special Education, Delapaz played and started in all 44 games for the Green and White. The Plymouth, Mich. native hit .274 on the season with 34 hits including five doubles and three long balls while driving in 30 RBI. Delapaz was a perfect 11-for-11 in stolen base attempts and struck out just 11 times in 124 at bats. In MAC play, she drove in 16 RBI with three extra-base hits and four stolen bases.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments from the current season only are considered.
2011 Academic All-MAC Softball
Alex Feltes, Akron#
Alex Helfrich, Akron#
Alicia Barkley, Ball State#
Alyssa Collins, Ball State
Lindsay Arney, Bowling Green
Paige Berger, Bowling Green
Hannah Fulk, Bowling Green
Molly Coldren, Central Michigan
Kara Dornbos, Central Michigan
Macy Merchant, Central Michigan
Jenna Ignowski, Eastern Michigan
McKenna Russ, Eastern Michigan
Stacie Skodinski, Eastern Michigan
Sarah Gerber, Eastern Michigan#
Holly Finchum, Kent State
Jessica Simpson, Miami
Melissa Bonner, Ohio #
Jillian Van Wagnen, Ohio
Emily Wethington, Ohio #
Shana Szypka, Toledo
Lindsey Tobias, Toledo
Lexi Jager, Western Michigan
Courtney Rousseau, Western Michigan
#2010 Academic All-MAC Team
2011 Academic Honorable Mention
Heather Bauer, Akron
Sarah Earley, Akron
Cassie Gleisner, Akron
Olivia Hegedus, Akron
Audra Sanders, Ball State
Kim Mazzapica, Ball State
Andrea Arney, Bowling Green
Melissa Bott, Bowling Green
Missy Bowman, Bowling Green
Zada Lines, Bowling Green
Rachel Proehl, Bowling Green
Melissa West, Bowling Green
Ashley Bertot, Buffalo
Jessica Griffin, Buffalo
Alyssa Ward, Buffalo
Summer Knoop, Central Michigan
Jaclyn Caro, Eastern Michigan
Nellie Coquillard, Eastern Michigan
Lauren Delapaz, Eastern Michigan
Danielle Abernathy, Kent State
Jess Carmichael, Kent State
Shannon Laughlin, Kent State
Mary Holt, Kent State University
Maleeya Coleman, Kent State
Markie Pozzuto, Kent State
Sarah Starr, Kent State
Jordan McElroy, Miami
Daniela Torres, Miami
Carly Norton, Northern Illinois
Alexandra Wulbecker, Northern Illinois
Amanda Sheppard, Northern Illinois
Whitney Owens, Northern Illinois
Sara Clark, Ohio University
Lauren Gellerman, Ohio University
Chelsea Hortman, Ohio University
Paige Kemezis, Ohio University
Brooke Morgart, Ohio University
Jordan Paden, Ohio University
Becki Heimbigner, Toledo
Jillian Spink, Toledo
Whitney Young, Toledo
Michelle Bendewald, Western Michigan
Tara Buchanan, Western Michigan
Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) was just one of six players in the MAC to earn their second consecutive Academic All-MAC honors, while teammates Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles), McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover), and Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) earn their first Academic All-MAC award. Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy's Priory), Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles), and Lauren Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) were also considered, as they picked up honorable mention honors.
Gerber, a 3.70 Special Education major, played in 43 games in 2011, starting 37 behind the plate and five as the designated player. The junior cranked out 45 hits in 134 at bats for a .336 overall batting average and scored 19 times while connecting on 10 doubles and five home runs with 28 RBI. In MAC play, she owned a .381 clip with a .619 slugging percentage and a .426 on base percentage. Gerber was solid behind the plate, making just two errors all season for a .992 fielding percentage to improve her career percentage to .988, the second-best mark on the EMU all-time career list.
A 3.79 speech pathology major, Ignowksi earns her first Academic All-MAC award after an impressive season in the circle for the Green and White. A three-time MAC West Pitcher of the Week this season, she played in 28 games with a 13-7 overall mark. The Niles, Mich. native struck out 121 batters in 2011 for the sixth-most in the conference. He also recorded the Eagles' 12th no-hitter in program history in her 12-strikeout performance against WMU on April 2. She also tied the fourth most strikeouts in a game by any EMU pitcher with 12 against WMU and BGSU. The sophomore shut down opposing offenses as seen by her .232 opponent batting average and her 2.72 ERA.
Russ put together one of her most successful seasons in 2011. The 3.36 Communications Major was named All-MAC first team after posting a .415 overall batting average for the second best clip in the MAC and the second best mark in EMU softball program history. Russ connected on 49 hits with 11 doubles, two triples, and five home runs. The junior also recorded six multi-RBI games and 15 multi-hit games, nine of which were in MAC contests. A MAC West Player of the Week selection on April 5, Russ made history against Northern Illinois when she registered her 11th hit in as many plate appearances to tie the third best streak in the NCAA Division I record books for consecutive hits.
Quite possibly one of the most successful hitters in EMU softball history, Skodinski rounds out the Academic All-MAC team after completing a record-setting career for the Eagles. The 3.34 Secondary Education Major was named second team All-MAC after accumulating 49 hits for a .383 clip with a .333 mark in MAC play. The March 29 MAC West Player of the Week tied the EMU all-time career doubles record of 43 after cranking out 13 in 2011, and her 10 home runs put her second in EMU history with 25 career round-trippers. Skodinski led team with nine multi-RBI games during the 2011 campaign and registered 15 multi-hits games, four of which in MAC contests. She also boasted a team best .719 slugging percentage and .456 on-base percentage.
Caro overcame injuries to put together a solid senior campaign for the Green and White. The honorable mention selection posted a 3.60 GPA in Speech Language Pathology and will continue graduate studies at Arizona State University in the fall. She appeared in 15 games, starting eight in the circle and held opposing hitters to just a .223 average. Caro struck out 36 batters in 48 innings of work with a team-best 2.48 ERA. In MAC contests, she appeared in six games as a reliever, where she posted an impressive 1.45 ERA with a 2-1 record in the circle, including 13 strikeouts in 19.1 innings. Impressively, Caro did not give up a single home run in MAC contests and held hitters to just a .211 clip.
Coquillard, an honorable mention consideration and a 3.65 Communications major, started in all 44 games at second base. The sophomore had 10 multi-hit games, four of which were in MAC contests, and also owns eight multiple-RBI outings this season. Her 2011 campaign was highlighted by a career best five-RBI day against the No. 2-ranked Michigan for the second best single-game RBI effort in EMU softball history. The Niles, Mich. native also tallied 31 hits with eight doubles and four homeruns with 34 RBI for a .265 average. Coquillard also maintained a .294 clip in MAC games with six extra-base hits, and committed just two errors in MAC play for a .970 fielding percentage.
Rounding out the honorable mention honorees is Delapaz. A senior who maintained a 3.68 GPA in Special Education, Delapaz played and started in all 44 games for the Green and White. The Plymouth, Mich. native hit .274 on the season with 34 hits including five doubles and three long balls while driving in 30 RBI. Delapaz was a perfect 11-for-11 in stolen base attempts and struck out just 11 times in 124 at bats. In MAC play, she drove in 16 RBI with three extra-base hits and four stolen bases.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments from the current season only are considered.
2011 Academic All-MAC Softball
Alex Feltes, Akron#
Alex Helfrich, Akron#
Alicia Barkley, Ball State#
Alyssa Collins, Ball State
Lindsay Arney, Bowling Green
Paige Berger, Bowling Green
Hannah Fulk, Bowling Green
Molly Coldren, Central Michigan
Kara Dornbos, Central Michigan
Macy Merchant, Central Michigan
Jenna Ignowski, Eastern Michigan
McKenna Russ, Eastern Michigan
Stacie Skodinski, Eastern Michigan
Sarah Gerber, Eastern Michigan#
Holly Finchum, Kent State
Jessica Simpson, Miami
Melissa Bonner, Ohio #
Jillian Van Wagnen, Ohio
Emily Wethington, Ohio #
Shana Szypka, Toledo
Lindsey Tobias, Toledo
Lexi Jager, Western Michigan
Courtney Rousseau, Western Michigan
#2010 Academic All-MAC Team
2011 Academic Honorable Mention
Heather Bauer, Akron
Sarah Earley, Akron
Cassie Gleisner, Akron
Olivia Hegedus, Akron
Audra Sanders, Ball State
Kim Mazzapica, Ball State
Andrea Arney, Bowling Green
Melissa Bott, Bowling Green
Missy Bowman, Bowling Green
Zada Lines, Bowling Green
Rachel Proehl, Bowling Green
Melissa West, Bowling Green
Ashley Bertot, Buffalo
Jessica Griffin, Buffalo
Alyssa Ward, Buffalo
Summer Knoop, Central Michigan
Jaclyn Caro, Eastern Michigan
Nellie Coquillard, Eastern Michigan
Lauren Delapaz, Eastern Michigan
Danielle Abernathy, Kent State
Jess Carmichael, Kent State
Shannon Laughlin, Kent State
Mary Holt, Kent State University
Maleeya Coleman, Kent State
Markie Pozzuto, Kent State
Sarah Starr, Kent State
Jordan McElroy, Miami
Daniela Torres, Miami
Carly Norton, Northern Illinois
Alexandra Wulbecker, Northern Illinois
Amanda Sheppard, Northern Illinois
Whitney Owens, Northern Illinois
Sara Clark, Ohio University
Lauren Gellerman, Ohio University
Chelsea Hortman, Ohio University
Paige Kemezis, Ohio University
Brooke Morgart, Ohio University
Jordan Paden, Ohio University
Becki Heimbigner, Toledo
Jillian Spink, Toledo
Whitney Young, Toledo
Michelle Bendewald, Western Michigan
Tara Buchanan, Western Michigan
Thank You, Team 38
Monday, May 07
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Saturday, February 24
Closing Out a Legacy: Michelle Kriegshauser
Thursday, May 18
EMU Softball Signs Alyssa Feiler
Saturday, March 25