University of Minnesota Athletics
Groenewegen Named Top Freshman Finalist
4/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 17, 2014
NFCA Release | Minnesota Daily Feature on Groenewegen
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Minnesota softball freshman Sara Groenewegen was named as a top-25 finalist for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Inaugural Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy, which will be presented prior to the start of the 2014 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla., the organization announced Thursday afternoon.
The top-25 finalists all play for different school and Groenewegen is one of two players on the list to play in the Big Ten. Michigan's Megan Betsa is the other.
Groenewegen is enjoying an outstanding first season for the Maroon and Gold, both in the pitching circle and in the batter's box.
The White Rock, B.C. native's efforts have earned her two Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards and a Big Ten Pitcher of the Week laurel. As a pitcher, the Canadian National Team member is 11-0 with a 2.35 earned run average. Her record includes six Big Ten wins and three wins against ranked teams. She ranks fourth in the nation with a clip of 11.4 strikeouts per seven innings, tallying 126 Ks in 77.1 innings of work.
As the team's primary cleanup hitter, Groenwegen has registered a .306 batting average with a home run total of eight, the second-highest on the No. 12-ranked Gophers' team. She has driven in 29 runs and has produced 16 extra-base hits.
Groenewegen and the Gophers kick off a three-game series with first-place and No. 3-ranked Michigan Friday night at 5 in Ann Arbor, Mich. The game can be seen live on Gopher All-Access.
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