VERMILLION, S.D. – University of North Dakota senior infielder Nicole Puerling has been named to the 2009 Division I All-Independent Softball Team as announced by the University of South Dakota sports information department on Wednesday.

Puerling, a second team selection, topped the Sioux lineup with a .322 batting average, nine home runs, 26 RBI and 72 total bases.

The Camarillo, Calif. native was named the Mar. 30 Great West Player of the Week after leading UND at the plate for the second-straight week in a row. She was 6-for-19 with five RBI, three runs scored and a double. In the final game of the week against Brigham Young, Puerling added a home run to the list when she lifted a 2-2 count high over the centerfield wall.

Going into the BYU series, she was on a career-long and team best nine-game hit streak.

Puerling will graduate as UND’s all-time leader in home runs (25), RBI (138) and walks (60) and is listed top five in four additional career categories and top 10 in two others. Only one other player in UND softball history has tallied over 100 career RBI.

She took over as the home run leader on Apr. 15 during the 25-0 win over Minnesota, Crookston. Against the Golden Eagles, she also tied UND single-game records and set new personal-highs with a pair of home runs and seven RBI.  

On Apr. 26 – her final day in a Sioux jersey – Puerling took the reigns as UND’s most walked player when she was delivered her 60th career walk. During the Feb. 8 game versus Dayton, she was walked a career-high four times and set a new UND single-game record.

University of South Dakota outfielder Tagney Jones, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville pitcher Kaitlin Colosimo, University of Northern Colorado outfielder Melisa Ryba and Seattle University’s Hannah Klein received top honors for this year’s team.

Jones (Sr., Lincoln, Neb.) was named the All-Independent Player of the Year, while Colosimo (Sr., Orland Park, Ill.) is the 2009 All-Independent Pitcher of the Year. Ryba (Fr., Littleton, Colo.) and Klein (Fr., Camarillo, Calif.) shared the All-Independent Freshman of the Year honors. SIU Edwardsville’s Sandy Montgomery is the 2009 Coach of the Year.

The 2009 All-Independent Team featured 13 schools not affiliated with a conference in softball in 2009. The NCAA Division I All–Independent Softball Teams were selected in a vote of coaches and sports information directors at the participating independent schools.

2009

-GoSioux!-