After a record-breaking season, numerous members of the Gustavus softball team received post-season awards.
First-year infielder Audrey Lenoch, a Pine Island, Minnesota native, was named to the NFCA Division III All-America Second Team. Lenoch hit .409 this past season with four home runs and 41 RBI. She broke the single season school record for doubles (14), game winning RBI (14), and fielding percentage (.992).
Senior Christina Diller, an infielder from Menomonie, Wisconsin was named to the Verizon Academic All-America Second Team. She posted a career batting average of .371 which ranks sixth all-time at Gustavus. She graduated with a 3.71 grade point average as a biology and pre-medicine major.
Junior Ingrid Olson, an outfielder from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, was named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team. She was 3-of-7 at the plate in the first three NCAA tournament games in the program’s history with two runs scored and an RBI.
Senior Julie Langenfeld, an outfielder from Rosemount, Minnesota, was also named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team. She was 5-for-11 at the plate including 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored in the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.
Junior Molly Biehn, a pitcher from Mankato, Minnesota, pitched and played first base for Gustavus, was named the MIAC Player of the Year. She was one of the league’s most dominating pitchers, posting a 12-0 record and 1.08 earned run average against conference foes. Biehn tallied a strikeout to walk ratio of 11.75 in MIAC play. Against conference opponents she hit .338 and registered three home runs and 19 RBI. Biehn was also named to the Verizon Academic All-District First Team. She was also named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team.
Lenoch, Biehn, and Diller were all named to the MIAC All-Conference Team. Catcher Jenny Ebanks, a junior from Champlin Park, Minnesota, was also named to the all-conference squad. She hit .333 on the season with three home runs, 17 RBI and a .559 slugging percentage.
Head Coach Shanda Ness was named the MIAC Coach of the Year for leading Gustavus to its second conference title in the history of the program. She guided the Gusties to a 27-11 record, an MIAC championship, and the first NCAA post-season berth in the history of the program. Gustavus went 21-1 in conference play, set the school record for wins in a season, and was awarded the top seed in the number seven seed NCAA Regional.