Bowling Green State University Athletics
Vrabel Ranks Among National ERA Leaders
July 11, 2003 | Softball
July 11, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The NCAA office has released the final softball statistics for the 2003 season, and Bowling Green State University freshman Liz Vrabel was listed among the national leaders in earned run average. Vrabel, a native of Allison Park, Pa. (North Allegheny HS), finished her initial season ranked 21st in the country in that category. Her ERA of 1.12 led the Mid-American Conference.
Vrabel ranked second nationally among all freshmen, trailing only Arizona's Alicia Hollowell (0.94 ERA) among frosh. Hollowell ranked ninth nationally. Sophomore Cat Osterman of Texas led the country with an ERA of 0.37.
Vrabel, an All-MAC second-team selection, had one of the finest pitching campaigns in school history. She led the league in ERA, opponent batting average (.171) and strikeouts (168) in 2003. Vrabel was second in the conference in wins (17), tied for third in appearances (32), fourth in innings pitched (174 1/3) and complete-game shutouts (six), tied for sixth in games started (24) and seventh in complete games (18).
Vrabel had a record of 17-11 on the season, including three complete-game one-hitters. She had a streak of 25 2/3 innings, covering seven appearances, without allowing an earned run from mid-February to mid-March, and had a streak of 38 1/3 innings without surrendering an earned run over the first half of April.
The Falcons finished the 2003 season with an overall record of 26-26-1. Fifth-year head coach Leigh Ross-Shaw's team posted a MAC ledger of 15-9 to finish fourth in the West Division and fifth overall. The Brown and Orange qualified for the six-team MAC Tournament for the fifth time in six seasons.
