From University of Rochester Athletics
University of Rochester senior pitcher/infielder Brittany Grage has been named a First Team All-American in Division III softball by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
The All-Americans were announced on Wednesday evening at the NCAA's championship banquet in Salem, Virginia, site of the NCAA final round for softball.
Grage is the fifth Rochester softball player in the last eight years to earn All-America honors and just the second to be named as a First Team All-American. In 2008, outfielder Jessica Sorrentino was named a Third Team All-American. Pitcher Beth Ameno was named a Third Team All-American in 2009. Last year, first baseman Nina Korn was named to the First Team and second baseman Tayler Fravel was named to the Third Team.
The First Team All-America honor caps off an outstanding year for Grage, both statistically and in terms of honors received. She was named First Team All-Northeast Region by the NFCA, Liberty League Player of the Year and First Team All-Liberty League, First Team All-University Athletic Association, and to the UAA's All-Tournament Team (selected at the league championship tournament in Florida in March). Grage was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Liberty League playoffs. Additionally, she was named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team.
Grage started all 42 games for Rochester this season. She led the team in average with a .419 stick (57-136). She scored 35 runs (tied for the team lead), hit 11 doubles (second), two triples, and 15 home runs, which is a single-season record. She drove in 58 runs which ties the single-season mark. Her slugging percentage was .860 and her on-base percentage was .461.
In the NCAA statistics through games of May 17, Grage is ranked fifth in home runs in Division III this year (15), seventh in home runs per game (0.36), sixth in RBIs (58), and ninth in RBIs per game (1.38). She is 15th in slugging percentage (.860).
On the mound, she had a 14-6 record with a 2.03 ERA and one save. She pitched in 26 games with 22 starts. She had 13 complete games and seven shutouts. In 124.1 innings pitched, she allowed 96 hits, 53 runs (36 earned runs), walked 34, and struck out 102. She allowed 15 doubles, no triples, and three home runs. Opponents hit .205 against her.
On the first day of the Liberty League playoffs, Grage was named a co-winner of the University of Rochester's Merle Spurrier Award. It is given to the senior woman who has made the most outstanding contribution to women's sports by demonstrating such qualities as leadership, enthusiasm, and service in her four years at the University.
Rochester finished the 2015 season with an overall record of 29-13. The Yellowjackets won the regular season title in the Liberty League with a 10-2 record. They hosted the Liberty League playoffs and posted three shutout wins: 5-0 over Skidmore, 6-0 versus Rensselaer, and 5-0 vs. Union. The three victories gave the Yellowjackets an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
In a three-team regional, Rochester defeated Penn State-Berks, 4-0, in the first game. The Yellowjackets lost, 3-2, to 17th-ranked Moravian College in their second game. The next day, Grage hit a walkoff grand slam in the bottom of the seventh to give Rochester a 6-3 win over Moravian and set up a winner-take-all game to determine which team would advance to the Super Regional Round. Moravian won that game, 4-2.
Grage's walk-off grand slam against Moravian gave her the single-season home run record and tied the single-season RBI mark. She entered that game tied with Korn, who hit 14 home runs last year (and drove in 58 runs).
Athletic Bio Heading into 2015 Season:
At UR 2014: The junior was again one of Rochester's top players, ending the season being named 1st Team All-Region by the NFCA, Liberty League Pitcher of the Year and unanimous 1st Team selection and 2nd Team All-UAA...2nd Team All-ECAC Upstate honoree...Grage played and started in all 46 games this season, compiling a 17-7 record and 1.53 ERA in the pitchers circle...She made 34 appearances and 24 starts on the rubber, totaling 160.1 innings, 141 hits allowed, 56 runs (35 earned) allowed, while striking out 123 to issuing just 36 walks...She threw 16 complete games and had nine shutouts for a new single-season UR record...At the plate, she hit .253 (37-146) with 24 runs, 9 doubles, 6 home runs and 29 RBI...The junior tossed the first perfect game in school history on May 3, when UR won 8-0 in five innings in the first of two finals games of the Liberty League Championship...Was named to the All-Tournament team of the Liberty League Tournament as well as the NCAA Regionals and NCAA Super Regionals...Was 3-3 with a career-high 5 RBI in a loss to Emory on Mar. 14...Ranked 1st in the Liberty League in ERA, innings, wins and shutouts...Topped the UAA in ERA, complete games and shutouts...Liberty League Pitcher of the Week 5x, UAA Pitcher of the Week 3x.
At UR 2013: Had another great season as a sophomore which ended with her being named 3rd Team All-Region by the NFCA...Also, was 2nd Team All-UAA and 2nd Team All-Liberty League selection...Started all 42 games...Led the Yellowjackets with a .372 batting average (51-137), while providing 12 doubles, 8 home runs, 36 RBI and 25 runs...Had 87 total bases for .635 slugging percentage...Was the ace on the mound for Rochester, going 13-10 with one save and a 2.62 ERA in 163 innings...Pitched 19 complete games and finished off three shutouts including the first solo no-hitter in school history on Apr. 6 against RIT...Struck out 123 batters while only allowing 36 walks...Held opponents to .267 batting average while giving up just 61 earned runs...Ranked in the top 100 in NCAA Division III in strikeouts...Tied for Liberty League lead in innings, ranked 2nd in hits, RBI, total bases, ERA, wins and complete games...3rd in the conference in doubles, home runs and pitching strikeouts.
At UR 2012: Emerged as one of the top Yellowjacket players as a freshman...Started all 44 games for UR, with 24 starts coming on the mound...Recorded a 12-7 record as a pitcher with a 2.29 ERA and 96 strikeouts...Pitched in 131.1 innings and allowed 43 earned runs while notching 11 complete games and two shutouts...At the plate, hit .281 (38-135) with 8 home runs, 8 doubles, 26 runs and 27 RBI...Ranked third on the team in runs, doubles and total bases (70) while finishing second in home runs and RBI...Drew 18 walks on the year and had a slugging % of .519...Earned the win in the NCAA Tournament against Salem State Univ. where she pitched a complete game allowing 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned) while walking 2 and striking out 3...As a pitcher, ranked 2nd in the Liberty League in innings and wins while being 3rd in ERA and 4th in K's...As a hitter, ranked T-2nd in home runs and 2nd in walks in the conference...Following the season, was named to the 3rd Team All-Northeast Region and 2nd Team All-Liberty League.
HS: Attended Pittsford Mendon HS where she lettered in softball...Earned multiple honors including New York State Player of the Year, 1st Team All-State, 1st team All-County and two-time All Greater Rochester Player of the Year...Was 2011 team captain and 2010 and 2011 team MVP...Threw two no-hitters in state semis and finals to earn a state championship...Recorded 164 K's in only 130 innings pitched while only giving up 12 earned runs...Also batted .600 with eight HR's and 45 RBI during the 2011 season.