MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – On Tuesday, seven members from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team were selected to the All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) team, including four Blugolds claiming First Team honors.
Earning First Team honors for the second-straight season were Sarah Peka (Jr. - Chanhassen, MN/Minnetonka) and Mikayla McEnery (So. - Savage, MN/Prior Lake).
Peka was third in the WIAC with an earned run average of 1.79 and tied for fourth with 11 wins.
McEnery tallied a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in WIAC play while the centerfielder boasted a conference batting average of .348 and on base percentage of .388.
Also named to the First Team were pitcher Cheyenne Johnson (Jr. - Poplar, WI/Northwestern) and catcher Abbey Place (So. - Naperville, IL/Central).
Johnson was fourth in the WIAC with a 1.92 ERA and also recorded the third-best opposing batting average (.240). The junior was second in the conference in saves (4) and tied for second in runs allowed (26). Johnson also hit .300 in WIAC play with a slugging percentage of .450.
Place tied for seventh in the WIAC with 10 doubles and tallied a .286 WIAC batting average, and a .317 on base and slugging percentage. Behind the plate, the sophomore tied for second in the league by throwing out nine stolen base attempts.
In addition, Tessa Dachel (Jr. – Chippewa Falls, WI/Chi-Hi) and Emma Lehman (Sr. - Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) earned Honorable Mention honors.
Dachel hit .387 in conference games with an on base percentage of .444 and .419 slugging percentage while Lehman hit for a .321 average, .424 on base and .464 slugging percentage.
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school, with Bri Calder (Sr. – Corcoran, MN/Rockford) representing the Blugolds.
After finishing the regular season with a record of 26-11-1 and as the WIAC regular season and tournament runner-up, the Blugolds earned an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament. Eau Claire will travel to St. Paul, Minn. for the University of St. Thomas regional and will face Wartburg College in their opening game. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 9. Follow the Blugolds on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app' on your mobile device.
