Brunlieb Named WIAC Pitcher Of The Year
Pitcher of the Year Sara Brunlieb and four-time honoree Katie Koepsel highlighted UW-Oshkosh's four selections to the 2015 All-WIAC Softball First Team.
Shortstop Haley Bayreuther and second baseman Hayden Krueger – both repeat All-WIAC selections as juniors – joined sophomore Brunlieb and senior catcher Koepsel on the first team. Their selections mark the third straight season that the Titans have had four players on the first team.
Koepsel becomes the first UW-Oshkosh position player to be named all-conference first team four times (2012-15). Former Titans Nila Greunewald (1982-85) and Ronessa Stampfli (2005-08) were four-time first-team honorees as pitchers.
Brunlieb had a 21-4 record and a 2.03 earned run average in 30 appearances, including 23 starts. She recorded 106 strikeouts and four shutouts across 159 innings pitched. Brunlieb's 21 victories leads the WIAC and ranks eighth in the NCAA Division III. Brunlieb became UW-Oshkosh's first 21-game winner since Gruenewald won a school-record 25 games in the 1985. Brunlieb is the second Titan to earn WIAC Pitcher of the Year accolades, joining Stampfli, who won the award four consecutive seasons from 2005-08.
Brunlieb, who won 19 of 20 decisions from March 26 through May 2, pitched the 11th no-hitter in program history against Thomas College (Maine) on March 27. She also pitched a one-hitter against Finlandia University (Mich.) on April 10 and a two-hitter against Ripon College on April 25.
Brunlieb owns a 32-8 career record and five shutouts in 260 innings pitched. Her 49 career appearances, including 41 as a starter, feature 147 strikeouts.
Koepsel paced the Titans in batting average (.433), hits (55), home runs (12), total bases (103), on-base percentage (.503) and slugging percentage (.811). She was second on the team with 33 runs, 10 doubles and 40 runs batted in. Her school record-tying home run total and slugging percentage led the WIAC while her total bases were second best in the league. Koepsel lists third in the conference in hits, runs batted in, and on-base percentage. Her 12 home runs also ranks 11th in the NCAA Division III.
Koepsel, who set a school record with a 19-game hitting streak this season, concluded her career as the program's all-time leader with 34 home runs. She tied the school mark with 12 homers this season after hitting nine as a freshman in 2012, six during her sophomore campaign and seven last year. Koepsel's record-setting career also includes tying the WIAC mark with 20 doubles last season.
Koepsel's career totals include .387 hitting, .727 slugging and .458 on-base percentages in 151 games, including 143 starts. She scored 102 career runs and had 170 hits, 41 doubles, 128 RBIs and 319 total bases.
Bayreuther, who earned her second straight All-WIAC first team honor, paced UW-Oshkosh with 38 runs, two triples, 23 walks and 17 stolen bases from atop the Titan batting order. Bayreuther's .460 on-base percentage was second on the team, and she finished third on the squad with a career-high seven home runs, 71 total bases and a .597 slugging percentage.
Bayreuther's career totals include a .307 batting average with 102 runs, 98 hits, six triples, 10 home runs, 45 RBIs and a school-record 39 stolen bases in 112 games, all starts.
Krueger is a three-time All-WIAC selection after earning the honor in 2014 and 2013. She led the team and ranks second in the conference with 41 runs batted in. Krueger also ended the season second on the squad with a .354 batting average, 33 runs, 45 hits, nine home runs, 82 total bases and a .464 slugging percentage in 42 starts.
Krueger's career totals include a .388 batting average, 99 runs, 137 hits, 24 doubles, 22 home runs, 94 RBIs and .727 slugging and .458 on-base percentages in 112 games, all starts.
Titan freshman third baseman Erika Berry received All-WIAC honorable mention recognition. Berry hit .333 in 41 starts with 28 runs, 39 hits, a team-leading 12 doubles, two home runs, 22 runs batted in and 13 stolen bases.
UW-Eau Claire senior third baseman Amanda Fischer was named the league's Player of the Year for the second time. Fischer also won the honor in 2013.
Also named to the 21-player All-WIAC First Team were Lauren Blasczyk, Casey Arnold and Taylor Pierce from UW-Eau Claire; Alecia Faber, Emily Holldorf and Megan Nelson from UW-La Crosse; Lisa Karau from UW-Platteville; Abbie Morris and Katie Thompson from UW-River Falls; Jordon Schreiner from UW-Stevens Point; Tori Workman from UW-Stout; Kristen Haider from UW-Superior; and Deven DuCharme, Bekka Houda, Jo Jablonski and Mallory Klotz from UW-Whitewater.
UW-Whitewater's Brenda Volk earned WIAC Coach of the Year honors.
UW-Oshkosh (30-12) won 30 games for the fourth time in program history and hit a school-record 41 home runs. The Titans finished third in the WIAC with a 12-4 record.