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DenHartog Among Nation’s Best Freshmen
5/9/2019 10:01:00 AM | Softball
Natalie DenHartog has been named a Schutt Sports/NFCA Freshman of the Year Top-10 finalist, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced Thursday.
The Hopkins, Minn. native started the season as a pinch hitter and quickly powered her way into the Gophers lineup as the cleanup batter. The Hopkins, Minn. native is batting .396 with 15 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 58 RBIs with a .840 slugging percentage.
The freshman slugger leads the conference in RBIs, is second in slugging percentage, third in home runs and sixth in batting average. She is 11th in the country in RBIs and 15th in slugging percentage. She can change any game with one swing of the bat as 32 of her 57 hits have gone for extra bases. She has hit three grand slams this season including one to help lift the Gophers to a sweep over Wisconsin.
DenHartog was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times this season. She earned unanimous All-Big Ten First Team and All-Freshman Team honors as well. She has spent the majority of her time in left field this year but more recently has been starting as the Gophers DP.
Minnesota has now had four Top-10 Freshman of the Year finalists in program history. DenHartog is one of three Big Ten players to make this year's prestigious list. The top three finalists will be released on May 21. The National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented during a live ceremony at the Women's College World Series banquet on May 28.
The Hopkins, Minn. native started the season as a pinch hitter and quickly powered her way into the Gophers lineup as the cleanup batter. The Hopkins, Minn. native is batting .396 with 15 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 58 RBIs with a .840 slugging percentage.
The freshman slugger leads the conference in RBIs, is second in slugging percentage, third in home runs and sixth in batting average. She is 11th in the country in RBIs and 15th in slugging percentage. She can change any game with one swing of the bat as 32 of her 57 hits have gone for extra bases. She has hit three grand slams this season including one to help lift the Gophers to a sweep over Wisconsin.
DenHartog was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times this season. She earned unanimous All-Big Ten First Team and All-Freshman Team honors as well. She has spent the majority of her time in left field this year but more recently has been starting as the Gophers DP.
Minnesota has now had four Top-10 Freshman of the Year finalists in program history. DenHartog is one of three Big Ten players to make this year's prestigious list. The top three finalists will be released on May 21. The National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented during a live ceremony at the Women's College World Series banquet on May 28.
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