Four Athletes Earn All-G-MAC Honors For Northwood softball

MIDLAND, MICH. – The Northwood University softball team had four players named to All-Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) teams Wednesday (May 3).

Led by standout pitcher Hailey Leister and newcomer Ashley Ziel on the first team, Jillian Krawczak earned second-team and Haley Frank took home third-team honors.

Leister's outstanding senior year has seen her earn G-MAC Pitcher of the Week honors three times while compiling a record of 22-8. She led the conference in wins (22 – eighth in DII), innings pitched (188 – fifth in DII), shutouts (nine), and saves (three) while sporting a 1.38 ERA (fourth in DII with at least 188 IP). Her nine shutouts tied the Northwood program record for a single season.

Freshman, Ziel, exploded onto the scene for the Timberwolves. Her offensive abilities saw her lead the conference in home runs (9). She leads the Timberwolves, in batting average (avg.) (.367), hits (62 – seventh in the G-MAC), runs batted in (RBI) (37 – third in the G-MAC), and on-base percentage (OBP) (.438 – ninth in the G-MAC). The Caro, Mich. native earned G-MAC athlete of the week honors twice. In Northwood's 9-0 win over Ursuline (April 8), Ziel slugged two home runs, collecting four RBI in the process.

Breakthrough junior outfielder, Krawczak, saw a career year with a .339 batting average. The Midland native hit her first two career home runs and held a .464 avg. within conference play. Her stats within the G-MAC included a .516 OBP and a .679 slugging percentage (SLG). Her stellar defense anchored the Northwood outfield, sporting a .970 fielding percentage and four outfield assists.

Northwood's everyday shortstop, Frank, finished off her great career with another great season. The shortstop batted leadoff for the Timberwolves for most of the year, leading the team in doubles (12), triples, (four), and stolen bases (10). Frank's 194 at-bats led the conference and will break the Northwood record (197) during the G-MAC tournament. Frank's stellar defense saw some spectacular plays this season, collecting 9 double-play assists on the season.

Northwood softball plays in the 2023 G-MAC Championships Wednesday (May 3) versus Midwest No. 9 Trevecca Nazarene in a pivotal regional matchup. The first-round game is set for 4:30 p.m. on the Iriti Field of Marathon Diamonds in Findlay, Ohio.