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KaiLi Gross of CWRU Softball Selected to CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team

KaiLi Gross of CWRU Softball Selected to CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team
Posted: Jun 07, 2022

From Case Western Reserve University Athletics

Case Western Reserve University sophomore infielder/pitcher KaiLi Gross was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America Division III Softball Third Team following her achievements both in the classroom and on the field during the past season.

Gross becomes the fourth Spartan this year to win the award, joining Anika Washburn (women's soccer), Elizabeth White (women's soccer), and Jacob Hall (men's soccer) and the 131st selection in the history of CWRU athletics. She is the fifth player in the history of the CWRU softball program to win the award, joining former Spartans Sarah Miller (2021 first team), Ilissa Hamilton (2020 first team, 2019 second team), Katie Wede (2018 first team) and Makenzie Lein (2014 second team).

Gross, the University Athletic Association Sophomore of the Year and a First Team All-UAA selection, led the Spartans this season with a .398 batting average and .675 slugging percentage. She hit six home runs, 10 doubles, and three triples, and stole 25 bases. Gross led the UAA in slugging percentage and was second in the conference in batting average and stolen bases. Her home run total and on-base percentage (.435) were both second on the team.

During her career, Gross has hit .391 (72-for-184) with 10 home runs and 34 runs batted in. She has 32 career stolen bases and a .413 career on-base percentage. Gross also has a career 3.03 earned run average in the circle, pitching 34 and two-third innings for the Spartans in her two seasons.

Academically, Gross is a UAA All-Academic honoree, and has recorded a 4.00 grade point average as a Biomedical Engineering major. This is the first career Academic All-America honor for Gross in her first year of eligibility.

The Spartans finished the season with a record of 30-12, the fourth time the program eclipsed the 30-win mark in a single season, and finished 13th in the final NFCA Top 25 Poll. Case Western Reserve reached the Super Regional Round of the 2022 NCAA Division III Softball Championship after winning the Cleveland Regional at Mather Park. It was the second time CWRU has reached the Super Regional Round since 2018.