EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The 2022 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Softball All-WIAC awards were announced Tuesday, with several Blugolds collecting honors.
Earning spots on the First Team were Sadie Erickson (Jr. – Norwood Young America, MN/Central), Megan Maruna (Jr. – Oswego, IL) and Ellie Decker (Sr. – Germantown, WI).
Erickson takes a spot on the First Team for the second-straight season. The junior ranks in the Top 10 in the WIAC in 10 different categories, including tying for the most RBIs (42), and is second in slugging percentage (.696) and on base + slugging percentage (OPS) (1.176) to teammate Maruna. Erickson is currently hitting .420 for Eau Claire.
Maruna tied for first in the WIAC in homeruns (7) and triples (5) and leads the league in slugging percentage (.813), OPS (1.335) and runs scored (47) which is 11 more than the anyone in the WIAC. Overall, the junior ranks in the Top 6 in 10 categories and has swiped 19 bases for Eau Claire.
Decker's name is also listed amongst the WIAC leaders, ranking in the Top 14 in six categories, including sixth in slugging percentage (.627). The senior has come through in the clutch for the Blugolds several times this season, including hitting an RBI double to tie the WIAC title game in the fifth inning. After La Crosse took the lead once again in the seventh, Decker would come up with another game-tying hit and set the Blugolds up for the winning run on the next play, securing the WIAC tournament title for the Blugolds. In addition, Decker was also named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.
Three Blugolds earned Honorable Mention honors: Lauren Gamme (So. – Eagan, MN), Madi Zerr (Jr. – Bristol, WI/Wilmot Union) and Kenna Strunsee (Fr. – Waukesha, WI/South).
Gamme was second in the WIAC in earned run average (ERA) and opposing batting average at 1.46 and .229, respectively. The sophomore led the conference in saves, recording six so far on the season and has allowed the fewest runs (15) and earned runs (10).
Fellow pitcher Madi Zerr was eighth in ERA (2.65) and currently leads Eau Claire with 74 innings pitched, surrendering just 27 earned runs.
Newcomer Kenna Strunsee is making the most out of her first season in the Blugold uniform, recording a batting average of .327 and has drawn a team-high 14 walks.
The Blugolds (26-9) went undefeated in the WIAC tournament to win their first automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament since 2007. They will travel to Angola, IN this week for the NCAA Regional and will face Trine University at 3:30 PM CT on Friday, May 13th. Follow all of the action on Blugold Game Day or on the UWEC Blugolds app.
