Horizon League Softball Players Ranked Among Nation's Best

April 12, 2006

The Horizon League was well-represented in the first softball statistics that were released by the NCAA on Tuesday (April 12).

Cleveland State staked a claim to the best stolen bases per game average with 2.19 per contest (57 SB in 26 G). Senior Grace Luginbuhl paces the Vikings with 11 thefts, while six players have five or more stolen bases on the campaign. Loyola has swiped 63 bases in 36 games to place 10th in the country with a rate of 1.75 per outing. Junior outfielder Tara Miller leads the club with 20 steals and an average of 0.56 per game, good for 19th nationally.

Youngstown State senior shortstop Tiffany Patteson finds her name on two of the lists released by the NCAA. She is tied for the top spot in the country in the toughest to strikeout category with one strikeout in 65 official at-bats, while placing fourth in average triples with a rate of 0.16 per appearance (3 3Bs in 19 G). Teammate Karlie Burnell ranks ninth in saves with three through the Penguins' first 19 games.

Lisa Meissner is on a torrid strikeout pace with 11.1 punchouts per seven innings (133 Ks in 84.0 IP), placing the UW-Green Bay senior 11th currently. Kate Sullivan, Meissner's battery-mate, is hitting at a .463 clip (25-for-54), which is good for 11th in the nation.

Click here for a complete listing of NCAA Stats (through games of 4/8/06)