All-UMAC Release

DULUTH, Minn. – Fresh off sweeping the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) regular season and tournament titles for the second consecutive year, the St. Scholastica softball team had five players named first team all-conference, including outfielder #Merryssa Tiedeman# (So.-Zumbrota, Minn./Zumbrota-Mazeppa), who was named UMAC Player of the Year.

Tiedeman led the conference with a .621 batting average in league games. She also had a conference-high 25 RBIs and had 20 extra-base hits in conference play. Tiedeman broke program records with 18 doubles and with a 23-game hitting streak. She also recorded the second-most triples in a season with seven. Both the doubles and triples were the most in the UMAC. Tiedeman was also named to the UMAC All-Defensive Team.

Pitcher #Jen Falk# (Jr.-Altona, Man.), catcher #Bonnie Kowalczyk# (Fr.-Menomonee Falls, Wis.), shortstop #Erika Solin# (Sr.-Duluth, Minn./Central), and second baseman #Kristin Swartz# (Sr.-Hermantown, Minn.) join Tiedeman on the conference's first team.

Falk is named to the first team for the second year in a row. Falk led the team with 11 victories this season and was second in the conference with 96 strikeouts and a 2.41 earned run average.

Kowalczyk earns first team accolades in her inaugural season with the Saints. Kowalczyk was steady behind the plate all season, committing just five errors and throwing out 11 base runners. She led the team with a .433 batting average and had a tremendous UMAC Tournament, going 8-for-12 with three RBIs, a double and a home run. Kowalczyk was also named to the UMAC All-Defensive Team.

Senior Erika Solin (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Central HS) earns first team honors for the first time in her career. Known for her glove, Solin was second in the conference with 92 assists and was part of nine double plays. She was fourth in the league with 12 stolen bases. Solin was also named the UMAC All-Defensive Team for the first time.

Another senior Kristin Swartz (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) is named to the first team for the second consecutive season. Swartz was named the conference's player of the year last year. She put up similar numbers again this season. Swartz led the conference with seven home runs. Her 15 career home runs are third-most in program history. She led the team with 36 RBIs and also had a team-high 18 walks. Swartz was named to the UMAC All-Defensive Team for the fourth straight year.

Third baseman #Theresa Tauer# (So.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata), pitcher/hitter #Shannen Schmidt# (Fr.-De Pere, Wis.), and pitcher/outfielder #Brittni Johnson# (Jr.-Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln) earned honorable mention accolades.

Tauer was a first team selection last season in her freshman campaign. This season she was third on the team with 44 hits and fourth on the squad with 31 RBIs.

Schmidt and Johnson earn honorable mention laurels in their first year at St. Scholastica. Schmidt registered six wins on the year and was second on team with 74 strikeouts. Schmidt also threw a no-hitter against Bethany Lutheran. Her 3.14 earned run average was third-best in the conference. Schmidt also had two home runs and 16 RBIs at the plate.

Johnson led the conference with a 1.73 earned run average and opponents batted just .226 against her. She had six wins on the year and was third on the team with 26 strikeouts. Johnson also had a home run and 22 RBIs at the plate.

Walter earns UMAC Coach of the Year honors for the second consecutive year and the sixth time in her career. Walter earned her 300th career victory during the season as she had her ninth, 20-win season. The Saints set team records in doubles (98) and triples (23).