Softball

UW-La Crosse Tabbed To Win Softball Championship

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, the defending conference champion, has been tabbed to secure the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) softball championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
The Eagles secured the second regular-season title in program archives last season and posted at least 20 victories for the 12th time in the last 15 years. UW-La Crosse’s 13-1 record in WIAC action was its best since a 16-0 mark during the 2010 campaign. The Eagles won 14 straight games overall – the second-longest winning streak in program history. UW-La Crosse welcomes back four All-WIAC first team performers from a season ago, including Kyra Lard (Newcomer of the Year); Jordyn McCormack (Position Player of the Year) and Elise Weinzierl (Pitcher of the Year).
 
UW-Eau Claire is slotted for second in the league race. The Blugolds won the eighth WIAC Tournament trophy in program history in 2022, and earned a bid into the NCAA Division III Championship for the 13th time.
 
UW-Eau Claire is followed in the predictions by: UW-Oshkosh; UW-Whitewater; UW-Stevens Point; UW-River Falls; UW-Platteville; and UW-Stout.
 
The WIAC schedule begins on April 7. Each team will play a 14-game conference slate with the top-six teams in the standings advancing to the WIAC Tournament to be held May 11-14, at the site of the No. 1 seed. The winner of the conference tournament secures an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship.
 
2023 Preseason Predictions (Voted on by WIAC head coaches and sports information directors)
 
2022 Record
1. UW-La Crosse (27-10 overall, 13-1 WIAC)
2. UW-Eau Claire (27-11, 9-5)
3. UW-Oshkosh (26-10, 10-4)
4. UW-Whitewater (20-19, 7-7)
5. UW-Stevens Point (19-17, 4-10)
6. UW-River Falls (17-16, 6-8)
7. UW-Platteville (13-19, 5-9)
8. UW-Stout (12-24, 2-12)
 
Team Capsules
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Leslie Huntington; 22nd season at UWEC; 548-291-2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  16/8
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  7/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  2/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  3/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Sadie Erickson, Sr., INF (2021-First, 2022-First); Lauren Gamme, Jr., RHP (2022-Honorable); Megan Maruna, Sr., OF/INF (2022-First); Kenna Strunsee, So., OF (2022-Honorable); Madi Zerr, Sr., LHP (2022-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Hayley Lamberson, Sr., OF; Megan Patterson, So., C; Shaelyn Talley, Sr., OF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Jacie Schultz, So., LHP
 
 
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Chris Helixon; 22nd season (18th at UWL); 444-347-1 (overall) / 392-253 (UWL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/7
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  6/3
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  4/0
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  3/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Hailey Jibben, So., OF (2022-Honorable) Kyra Lard, So., SS (2022-First/Newcomer of the Year); Jordyn McCormack, Jr., 3B (2022-First/Position Player of the Year); Remington Stark, Jr., RHP (2022-First); Elise Weinzierl, Jr., RHP (2022-First/Pitcher of the Year)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Anna Jensen, Jr., C; Megan Scheidt, Sr., OF; Lauren Winkler, Jr., OF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Ally Eden, So., RHP; Madi Lee, So., RHP
 
 
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Scott Beyer; 10th season at UWO; 221-104
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  16/1
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  8/1
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  2/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Maddie Fink, Sr., RHP (2021-First/Pitcher of the Year; 2022-Honorable); Abby Garceau, So., UTIL (2022-First); Sydney Nemetz, So., RHP (2022-First); Morgan Rau, Jr., SS (2022-First); Hannah Ritter, Sr., 1B (2021-First, 2022-First); Sophie Wery, So., C (2022-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Gabby Buikema, Sr., OF; Brianna Davis, So., OF; Zoe Malone, Jr., 2B
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  None
 
 
UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Becca Runde; 4th season at UWP; 32-38
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  11/6
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  5/4
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  2/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Claire Bakkestuen, Sr., 1B (2021-Honorable, 2022-First)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Payton Marvin, Jr., C/3B; Amanda Stanczuk, Sr., 1B/3B; Danielle Trumbo, Jr., OF

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Jordan Johnson, So., RHP
 
 
UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Amber Dohlman; 11th season (8th at UWRF); 135-181-1 (overall) / 82-125-1 (UWRF)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  11/7
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  6/3
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  1/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  1/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Kelly Aultman, So., INF (2022-Honorable); Johanna Breyen, Jr., OF (2021-First/Newcomer of the Year); Keegan Piton, Jr., INF (2022-First)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Megan Halverson, Sr., OF; Eleanor Hoge, So., INF; Hannah Richards, Jr., OF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Lindsey Duggan, So., RHP; Maggie Wallin, Sr., RHP
 
 
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Ryan Konitzer; 7th season (6th at UWSP); 92-107-1 (overall) / 79-82-1 (UWSP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/6
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  7/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  2/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Maddie Candre, Sr., OF (2019-Honorable, 2021-First/Position Player of the Year); Jesse Klicker, So., UTIL (2022-Honorable); Makenna Tkach, Sr., RHP (2021-First, 2022-Honorable); Sara Traxel, Sr., UTIL (2021-Honorable, 2022-First)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Emmie Cibrario, So., INF; Meg Lawrence, Sr., OF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Abby Van Beek, Jr., RHP
 
 
UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Chris Iliopoulos; 2nd season; 12-24
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  18/4
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  6/3
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  3/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  1/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Lexy Kupczak, Jr., C (2022-Honorable); Kayli Pfeffer, Sr., 3B (2022-First)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Kate Funk, Sr., DP; Ashley Jacobson, Jr., 1B; Emma Muehlenbeck, So., OF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Anna Blanford, So., RHP; Mackensie Wolterstorff, Sr., RHP
 
 
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Brenda Volk; 25th season at UWW; 700-293-5
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  17/6
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  8/1
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  3/0
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  3/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Kate Cleveland, Jr., RHP (2021-Honorable, 2022-Honorable); Rhiann Dick, Jr., LHP (2021-Honorable, 2022-First); Meghan Dunning, Jr., SS (2021-Honorable, 2022-First); Brooke Mangler, So., 2B (2022-Honorable); Krista Sbarra, Sr., OF (2022-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Delaney Becker, Jr., 2B; Kiarra Kostroski, So., C/OF; Grace Wickman, So., 3B
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Mallory Hollatz, Sr., RHP
 
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