Softball Places Three On NFCA All-Region Third Team

MUNCIE, Ind. - - Three members of the Ball State softball team were named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Great Lakes All-Region Third Team as announced Thursday (May 14) by the NFCA.

Representing the Cardinals on the list were senior outfielder Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan), junior pitcher Nicole Steinbach (Merrillville, Ind./Andrean) and junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski (Plainfield, Ind./South Putnam). All three are first time all-region honorees.

In all, 371 players from 153 different programs have been chosen to the 2015 NFCA Division I All-Region squads. The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first, second and third teams selected for each region. The all-region teams were voted on by NFCA member coaches from each respective region, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to one of three 2015 NFCA Division I All-American teams.

Stuedemann enters the 2015 NCAA South Bend Regional as Ball State's top offensive threat with a .394 batting average. The 2015 Mid-American Conference Softball Championship Most Valuable Player and First Team All-MAC selection, Stuedemann is the Cardinals active career home runs leader at 27, including nine this season. Entering regional play, she has tallied five game-winning RBI and scored four game-winning runs for Ball State in 2015.

A starter in all 56 games for the Cardinals in 2015, Stuedemann is also second on the team in RBI (48) and third in runs scored (44). She has a team-leading .505 on base percentage, with 63 hits, 25 walks and has been hit by a pitch 14 times. On the base paths, Stuedemann has nine swipes in 10 attempts. Stuedemann, who has played in 208 of a possible 217 games over her career, also enters regional play ranked fifth in program history in runs scored (139) and sixth in RBI (141).

Steinbach enters the 2015 NCAA South Bend Regional as Ball State's ace in the circle. In 37 appearances this season, Steinbach has produced an 18-13 record and a pair of saves. A MAC All-Tournament honoree and Second Team All-MAC selection, Steinbach boasts a 3.35 ERA this season and has struck out 160 batters over 194.1 innings of work. At last week's MAC Softball Championship, Steinbach threw 21.2 innings over the four games, earning wins in each contest. She limited opposing batters to a .205 average in the tournament and recorded a 2.26 ERA.

When Steinbach takes the circle in the South Bend Regional, she will be making her 100th career appearance for Ball State. She currently ranks fifth in program history with 47 career wins, while her 12 shutouts and 366 strikeouts both rank sixth on the Cardinals career list. A two-time MAC West Division Pitcher of the Week selection in 2015, Steinbach is a 10-time career honoree.

Dabkowski enters the 2015 NCAA South Bend Regional as the team's top run producer this season with 53 RBI and 53 runs scored. Ranked second on the team behind Stuedemann with a .358 batting average, Dabkowski leads the squad in home runs (16) and also owns a team-best 14 stolen bases. A MAC All-Tournament Team and First Team All-MAC selection this season, Dabkowski has scored six game-winning runs and tallied four game-winning RBI for the Cardinals in 2015.

Ball State's starting second baseman for each game over the past two seasons, Dabkowski has played in 133 of a possible 162 games over her career, including 110 starts. She ranks 10th in program history in both runs scored (107) and RBI (95), while her 22 career home runs are sixth in BSU annals and second among active Cardinals. Dabkowski was also named a MAC West Division Player of the Week for the first time in her career in early March.

The Ball State softball team opens play in the 2015 NCAA South Bend Regional Friday with a 5 p.m. game at No. 16 seed Notre Dame. The double elimination regional also features Kentucky and Northwestern.

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB and @TyraPerry13 / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.

2015 NFCA Great Lakes All-Region First Team

Pitcher	Megan	Betsa	University of Michigan
Pitcher	Haylie	Wagner	University of Michigan
Catcher	Lauren	Sweet	University of Michigan
First Base	Kaitlyn	Richardson	University of Minnesota
Second Base	Sierra	Romero	University of Michigan
Third Base	Sam	Macken	University of Minnesota
Shortstop	Andrea	Filler	Nortthwestern University
Outfield	Kelly	Christner	University of Michigan
Outfield	Sierra	Lawrence	University of Michigan
Outfield	Kelsey	Susalla	University of Michigan
Utility/Pitcher	Sara	Groenewegen	University of Minnesota
DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher	Mary	Connolly	DePaul University

2015 NFCA Great Lakes All-Region Second Team

Pitcher	Kristen	Wood	Northwestern University
Pitcher	Nicole	Sleith	Robert Morris University
Catcher	Erin	Burner	St. John's University
First Base	Kayti	Grable	Northern Illinois University
Second Base	Danielle	Parlich	University of Minnesota
Third Base	Tiana	Mack-Miller	University of Illinois at Chicago
Shortstop	Tyler	Walker	University of Minnesota
Outfield	Sabrina	Rabin	Northwestern University
Outfield	Jackie	Bates	Rutgers
Outfield	Andrea	DiPrima	Northwestern University
DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher	Hannah	Granger	University of Minnesota

2015 NFCA Great Lakes All-Region Third Team

Pitcher	Rachel	Knapp	Central Michigan University
Pitcher	Nicole	Steinbach	Ball State University
Pitcher	Tori	Free	St. John's
Pitcher	Elaine	Heflin	University of Illinois at Chicago
Catcher	Taylor	LeMay	University of Minnesota
First Base	Katelyn	Rentschler	Central Michigan University
First Base	Julia	Kuhn	Northwestern University
Second Base	Emily	Dabkowski	Ball State University
Third Base	Jordan	Whitley	Rutgers
Shortstop	Abby	Ramirez	University of Michigan
Outfield	Lexi	Knief	Pennsylvania State University
Outfield	Hanne	Stuedemann	Ball State University
Outfield	Jessica	Berzins	Canisius College
Outfield	Taylor	Parsons	St Francis
DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher	Amy	Letourneau	Northwestern University

- BallStateSports.com –

Softball Places Three On NFCA All-Region Third Team

Players Mentioned

Emily Dabkowski

Nicole Steinbach

Hanne Stuedemann

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