Syverson 5th in Sacrifices
Rathbun Leads NCAA Div. III With Nine Saves

June 7, 2006

Falcon softball players Brittany Rathbun (So., Rochester, Minn. Mayo HS) and Breamber Syverson (Jr., Prescott, Wis.) finished high in the final 2006 NCAA Div. III individual statistics saves and sacrifice reports.

Right-handed pitcher Rathbun led the NCAA Div. III with nine saves while Syverson finished fifth in sacrifices with 19.

Rathbun, who finished 3-8 and led the Falcons with a 1.85 ERA, appeared in 33 games, started eight times and had three complete games. The nine saves is a single season Falcon record and is a single season record in the WIAC. She has 13 career saves, also a Falcon record. Four other pitchers in the country finished second with five saves. She threw a complete game no-hitter on March 1 when the Falcons beat Carleton, 4-0. She combined with teammate Ashley Bertrand to pitch a combined no-hitter in a 4-0 win over Franklin & Marshall on March 13. She pitched 109.2 innings and allowed 104 hits and 50 runs. She walked only 27 and struck out 93. The 93 strike outs is fifth all time in a single season at UWRF. Opponents hit .248 against her. She was named the team's Co-Most Valuable Player. Rathbun has earned honorable mention to the All-WIAC teams in 2005 and 2006. She was named the team's Pitcher of the Week on April 17 and March 27.

Syverson, who batted second in the lineup, played in 41 games. The slap hitter hit .277 with one home run and two RBI. She scored 22 runs and walked seven times. She stole five bases and had a sparkling .975 fielding percentage. She made only four errors in 163 chances. She was named to the team's Player of the Week on March 27 when at the Coe Tournament she was 5-9 at the plate for a .555 average. She scored two runs, stole two bases and had three sacrifices. In the field she had a perfect weekend with 10 putouts and six assists. The NCAA leader finished wtih 23 sacrifices.

The Falcons finished tied for 46th in the NCAA Div. III with 14 double plays.

The Falcons finish the year 22-19-1.