Softball Prepares for NCAA Regional Debut

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The IPFW Softball team is set for their Friday evening contest against the Louisville Cardinals in the first game of the 2013 NCAA Great Lakes Regional, a regional that also includes UAB and UCLA.

When: Friday, May 17 (7:30 p.m.) | Saturday, May 18 (time TBD) | Saturday, May 19 (time TBD)
Where: Louisville, Ky. | Ulmer Stadium
Live Stats: Louisville Gametracker
Live Video Streaming: www.gocards.com

SISTER-SISTER

IPFW twin sistsers Alex and Ashleigh Bousquet have been an integral part of the IPFW squad since the moment they stepped on campus three years ago. The pair have each played and started in all 151 of IPFW's games over the past three years. Alex is the elder of the two siblings, by just 22 seconds, and the pair are one of three sets of twins currently on athletic teams at IPFW, joined by the Stafanie and Rachel Mauk (women's basketball), and Jason and Markus Kalber (baseball).

THIRD TIME WAS THE CHARM

IPFW advances to the NCAA Regional after falling in the Summit League Championships series twice prior. In 2007, IPFW's first year in the Summit League, the squad advanced to the Championship, falling in the finals to Western Illinois. Last season the Mastodons forced a second championship game, before falling to North Dakota State.

NCAA RANKINGS

The 2013 IPFW Mastodons have 13 players ranked inside of the NCAA's top-50, including Miranda Kramer, who ranks eighth in strikeouts per seven innings (10.4). Kramer ranks 15th in total strikeouts, 18th in shutouts, 26th in fewest hits allowed per seven innings (4.74), 38th in wins (22), and 50th in fewest walks per seven innings (1.5). Ashleigh Bousquet ranks 29th in on-base percentage, 35th in doubles per game (0.31), and 42nd in batting average (.417), while Larissa Franklin ranks 39th in stolen bases per game (0.54).

ALL-TIME WINS LEADER

With her win in the Summit League Championship game, IPFW head coach Amy Tudor became the program's all-time win leader. Tudor, now with 136 wins, passes former coach Keith Fisher, who had 135 wins, into the top spot in the record books. Her .685 winning percentage (136-62-1) currently ranks as the second-highest in Summit League history, behind only Eugene Lenti's .711 percentage (305-124) with the DePaul Blue Demons from 1993-1999.

IT'S OKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

In the first game of the 2013 Summit League Championships, North Dakota State pitcher Whitney Johnson struck out 12 UMKC batters, tying the single game Summit League Championship record. IPFW starting pitcher Miranda Kramer put Johnson's total to task, as the Bison pitcher held a share of the record for less than three hours, as the IPFW sophomore struck out 16 South Dakota batters, demolishing the prior record.

ALL-CONFERENCE

The IPFW Mastodons put four players on the All-League squad, announced by the league office on May 8. Ashleigh Bousquet, Larissa Franklin, and Miranda Kramer each earned First Team All-League honors for the second straight season, while Alex Bousquet was named Second Team All-League, also for the second straight year. Announced later that week, College Sports Madness put five players on the All-League team, as the website had the same three on first team, and had Alex Bousquet and Megan Flenniken on the All-League Second Team.

RECORD BREAKER

With her two home runs against North Dakota State in the second game of the day, Ashleigh Bousquet pushed into the career school record in hits and total bases. She already held the career school record in RBI's, and her 105 runs currently sits second on the all-time school list, behind her twin sister's 107.

TOURNAMENT MVP

After her two home run performance against North Dakota State in the Summit League second Championship Game, IPFW junior third baseman Ashleigh Bousquet was named the Summit League Tournament MVP. It was her third appearance on a Summit League All-Tournament team in her career. Joining her on the All-Tournament team this year was Alex Bousquet, Miranda Kramer, Megan Flenniken, and Audrey Mintari.

SAFE ON BASE

When Larissa Franklin was held off base against IUPUI on May 3, it snapped a streak of 37 consecutive games of reaching base, an IPFW school record. Franklin reached base safely in her first three, before being held without a hit or a walk two times in a three-game span, the latter on February 15 against Hampton. From February 16 until May 3, Franklin reached base at least once in every game, including a five-game span in which she went 15-for-18 at the plate against Troy, two against Western Illinois, and two against Ball State.

SMART ONES

IPFW junior third baseman Ashleigh Bousquet, and sophomore center fielder Larissa Franklin were recently named to the Summit League All-Academic Team in a release sent out by the league office on Wednesday afternoon. The teams are voted on by the nine institution's faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors. A total of 10 student-athletes were named to the team, and honored for their combined athletic and academic performances this season. IPFW had two members on the team, as did North Dakota State.

~ Feel the Rumble ~

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics

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