Four Falcon softball players have been named to the 2007 All-WIAC team.

Third baseman Emily Howlett (Jr., Eagan, Minn.), shortstop Mindy Rudiger (So., Menomonie, Wis.) and pitcher Ashley Bertrand (Jr., St. Paul, Minn.) were all named to the first team. Second baseman Breamber Syverson (Sr., Prescott, Wis.) earned honorable mention.

Howlett, who was named to the first team in 2006, led the Falcons in hitting with a .478 average. She also led the team in hits (66), doubles (15), slugging percentage (.746) and on-base percentage (.490). She was second in RBI (33) and tied for the team lead in triples (2). She struck out only four times in 147 plate appearances. Howlett had three sacrifice flies, stole one base and had a .945 fielding percentage. She played and started 42 games and batted third in the lineup. Her 15 doubles set a school single season record. Howlett was second in hits, doubles and total bases in the WIAC. She had a game high six at bats and four hits in an 11-7 win over Stevens Point on May 4. She scored two runs in a game nine times and a game high four RBI in an 11-2 win over Hamline on April 6. Howlett had 10 multiple RBI games and led the Falcons with 22 multiple hit games. She had a 10-game hitting streak and was named the team's Player of the Week on March 5 and March 19. In the four games at the WIAC Tournament, she was 12-17 at the plate for a .706 average. She scored three runs, hit one home run and had four RBI.

Rudiger, who earned honorable mention in 2006, was the team's lead off batter the entire season. She played and started all 44 games. She was second in hitting with a .384 average. She led the team in at bats (146), runs (46), home runs (12) and RBI (37). Rudiger finished with a .705 slugging percentage and a .461 on-base percentage. She stole six bases and had a .891 fielding percentage. She was second on the team in doubles (12) and hits (56). Rudiger finished in a tie for first in home runs and second in runs scored in the WIAC. She set a UWRF record with 12 homers. She led the Falcons with 11 multiple RBI games and had 17 multiple hit games. Rudiger was named the team's Player of the Week on March 12, March 26, April 9 and April 23. She had a game high six at bats and four hits in an 11-7 win over Stevens Point on April 6. She scored four runs in a game twice and had five RBI in a game twice. Rudiger had a four game hitting streak during the season. In the four games at the WIAC Tournament, she was 8-16 at the plate for a .500 average. She scored five runs, had one double and two homers. She had five RBI.

Bertrand, a right hander, finished 14-5 with one save. She appeared in 31 games and started 28 times. Bertrand led the team in innings pitched (148.2) and finished the year with a 2.21 ERA. She threw seven complete games and opponents hit .228 against her. She led the team with 148 strike outs and walked 39. Bertrand set a career record for strike outs with 355. She led the WIAC in starts and was second in appearances, fourth in wins and fourth strike outs. She had a game high 10 strike outs in a 3-1 win over Lake Forest on March 13. She twice allowed just one hit in two games - in a 3-1 win over Lake Forest on March 13 and in a 2-0 win over Platteville on April 14. Bertrand was named the team's Pitcher of the Week on March 5, March 19, April 2 and April 23. She was named the WIAC Pitcher of the Week on March 19 after the team's spring break trip to Florida where she appeared in eight games and started six times. She threw two complete games and had a 3-1 record and one save. She pitched 36.2 innings and allowed 20 hits. She walked only five and struck out 50. Opponents hit .153 against her and she had a 0.57 ERA.

Syverson, who finished fifth in the NCAA Div. III in sacrifices in 2006 (19), batted in the No. 2 spot in the lineup. She played and started all 44 games. She finished fourth in hitting with a .306 average. The left-handed slap hitter led the Falcons, and the WIAC, with 24 sacrifices and 17 stolen bases. She scored 25 runs and had six RBI. Syverson had a .349 on-base percentage. Syverson finished the year with a .954 fielding percentage. She was named the team's Player of the Week on April 30. She had one multiple RBI game and 10 multiple hit games. Syverson had two games with five at bats and five times scored two runs in a game. She had three hits in a 13-6 win over Superior on April 25 and a game-high two RBI in an 11-7 win over Stevens Point on May 4. Syverson had a seven game hitting streak during the season.

The Falcons finished 32-12 overall and 11-5 in the WIAC. The 32 wins is a school record, breaking the 1993 record of 28. The Falcons finished third in the final WIAC standings.

Go to the 2007 Falcon statistics page

Go to the WIAC softball web site.