Sarah Kennedy had a steady yet outstanding season in 2015. She has at least one hit in 52-of-54 games, including two or more hits in 31 games and two or more RBI in 21 games. Kennedy had a career-long 24-game hitting streak and currently ranks second in the nation in batting average (.505) and doubles (24). Kennedy leads the NSIC in batting average (.505), hits (93) and doubles (24). She ranks second in the league in slugging percentage (.918), runs scored (59), RBI (67), and is third in on-base percentage (.535) and home runs (16). Kennedy set the single-season record at Augustana with her 24th double last weekend, passing Augustana and NCAA Division II all-time career doubles leader Jenny Hill who had 23 in 2000. In 30 conference games, Kennedy is batting .500 with 13 doubles, one triple and 13 home runs. She has driven in 44 runs, scored 38 and has compiled a 1.029 slugging percentage and a .527 on-base percentage in conference play. 

Jenelle Trautmann had an impressive year in the circle for the Vikings, leading the NSIC in wins, strikeouts and opposing batting average. She has struck out an Augustana single season record 260 batters in 2015 and won a league-high 27 games against just two losses. Trautmann has compiled a 1.78 ERA and is holding batters to just a .199 batting average. She is averaging 10.3 strikeouts per game, striking out 10 or more batters in a game seven times, including a season-high 14 twice. Trautmann has been even more impressive in conference play, compiling a 0.60 ERA and a 16-1 record in 18 appearances and 15 starts. She has tossed six complete games and combined for six shutouts while striking out 157 batters in 92.2 innings. She has held NSIC opponents to a .160 batting average, allowing just 12 extra-base hits. Trautmann became Augustana’s all-time leader in wins (99) and strikeouts (766) in 2015. Amongst active players in NCAA, Trautmann ranks first amongst Division II players and third amongst players in all divisions in career wins.

McKenna Larsen burst onto the scene for the Warriors, becoming an integral part of the Winona State offense after claiming a starting role early in the season. Larsen currently is second on the team in batting average at .389 and boasts a .418 average in NSIC games. She is tied for third on the team in home runs with six, all in NSIC contests, and fifth in RBI with 34. Larsen’s .433 on-base percentage leads all regular starters and she is one of six players in the NSIC who have not recorded an error. The two-sport athlete also competing in volleyball, put together a two home run, five RBI game at Minnesota Crookston and has 14 multi-hit games along with nine doubles this season in 42 starts.

In her first season with USF, Walker has been a force for the Cougars, leading them in batting average and doubles, while ranking second in home runs. Starting all 50 games at either shortstop or third base, Walker batted .359 on the season, racking up a team-high 55 base hits. In conference play, she batted .344 from her cleanup spot and hit seven of her 10 total home runs on the season. She posted a .627 slugging percentage in the regular season, adding a team-high 11 doubles to her 10 home runs, and posted 28 RBI, 20 of which came during conference play. With 14 walks, Walker recorded a .424 on-base percentage, second on the team, and stolen eight bases, which helped her score 39 runs, the third-most for the Cougars in 2015. She has 13 multi-hit games and strung together hitting streaks of 11 and nine (twice) games and recorded a hit in 37 games on the season.

Kristi Villar was voted by her peers as the 2015 NSIC Coach of the Year after she led Northern State to their best season in over 20 years. The Wolves finished the regular season 32-20 overall and 19-10 in the NSIC. In her fifth season at the helm, Villar pulled together single-season school records in wins with 32 and homeruns with 31, while tying games played with 52 on the year. NSU, which was picked to finish 13th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll, finished fourth in the NSIC regular season and earned a berth to the NSIC/US Bank Softball Tournament. Just over a week ago, Villar earned her 100th career victory as the Wolves defeated Winona State 1-0 in extra innings. Villar is now 105-128 over her career. In addition to her team accomplishment, Villar has led seniors Kami Smesmo and Eryn Yancy to career records in strikeouts, appearances, wins, at-bats, doubles, homeruns, and hits, as well as single season records in appearances and wins.

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