ST. PAUL (Apr. 29, 2008) – Northwestern College softball player Kelsey Hanson was named the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday after her outstanding play the week before.
Hanson (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis) broke the school’s all-time record for strikeouts in a season on Sunday, currently standing at 131 following Tuesday’s play in the 2008 season. Hanson recorded a 13-strikeout performance against Minnesota Morris and a 10-strikeout game against Bethany Lutheran last week, lowering her season’s ERA to 2.09 after allowing only two earned runs in 28 and one-third innings.
Hanson is currently 17-3 this year, eclipsing the school record for single season wins. The junior also holds the record for career victories with 32.
Northwestern’s sweep of Minnesota-Morris on Tuesday gave the Eagles their first outright UMAC conference championship since 1995. After the initial 13-3 win over the Cougars, NWC head coach Tracy Cromer was congratulated with her 100th coaching victory. Cromer stands in second place all time for career wins as a coach at Northwestern.
The Eagles will compete in the UMAC postseason tournament this weekend, which is hosted by Crown College in St. Bonifacious, Minn. Northwestern is scheduled to play Martin Luther at 12 p.m. on Friday in the first round of a four-team, double elimination bracket.