Bowling Green State University Athletics
Softball Picked To Win MAC's East Division
February 14, 2001 | Softball
Feb. 14, 2001
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University softball team has been picked to win the Mid-American Conference's East Division in 2001, according to the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The poll, tabulated by a vote of the league's 13 head coaches, was announced Wednesday (Feb. 14).
The Falcons also were the choice of the league coaches to win the league tournament after finishing as the tourney runners-up last spring. BGSU, under the guidance of head coach Leigh Ross-Shaw, posted a 33-18 overall record and a 13-7 MAC mark to tie for the East Division crown a year ago.
Bowling Green returns seven positional starters and the entire pitching staff from the 2000 squad. The Falcons' four letterwinners lost included a pair of All-MAC performers in first-teamer Erin Zwinck (.329, 28 RBI, 26 runs), who split her time between third base and the designated-player spot last year, and catcher Colleen Bates, who earned second-team all-league honors a year ago. Bates completed her eligibility as BGSU's career leader in homers, with 11. She is second all-time with 87 RBI.
BGSU's third senior from a year ago was Carmen Hitterdal, a three-year starter in the outfield.
Heading the cast of returnees is senior first baseman Nikki Rouhana (.327 BA, 18 RBI, 18 runs, .937 Fld%), an All-MAC First-Team pick a year ago. Second-team All-MAC performer Jen Domschot (.317 BA, 6 HR, 23 RBI, .561 Slug.) is back as well, and likely will move to the centerfield spot for her senior season.
Bowling Green returns all four pitchers from a year ago, including sophomore McKenna Houle (11-8, 1.16 ERA, 58 K), and juniors Jessie Milosek (11-5, 1.76 ERA, 12 CG), Andrea Genter (8-5) and Rebekah Tipton (3-0).
The Falcons received seven of the possible 13 votes for first place in the East Division in the coaches poll.
Central Michigan, the defending MAC Tournament champion, was picked to win the West Division.
The Falcons open the 2001 season this weekend, playing five games in Tucson, Ariz., at the Pepsi Arizona Classic (Feb. 16-18).
The complete league preseason poll follows, with first-place votes in parentheses:
East Division 1. Bowling Green (7) 79 2. Marshall (1) 63 3. Kent State (1) 61 4. Akron (2) 59 5. Ohio (2) 49 6. Miami 40 7. Buffalo 13
West Division 1. Central Michigan (8) 72 2. Northern Illinois (5) 69 3. Ball State 48 4. Eastern Michigan 41 5. Toledo 22 6. Western Michigan 21
Tournament Winner Bowling Green 4 Northern Illinois 3 Central Michigan 2 Akron 1 Ball State 1 Eastern Michigan 1 Marshall 1
