MILWAUKEE – Today at the Neumann Family Softball Field, the Mount Mary University softball team will host rival Maranatha Baptist University (7-22). MMU (12-18) will honor senior Jess Runge (Freedom, Wis.) in their final home series of the season. The third doubleheader against the rival Association of Division III Independents Sabercats will begin at 3:00 pm.
In two seasons, transfer senior Jess Runge has made a lasting impact on the Blue Angels. A two-sport athlete that excels in both basketball and softball, Runge came to the MMU lineup last season and instantly took to the leadership role. Runge's presence and guidance on an off the softball field were an instant impact to her teammates.
Last year, the transfer played in 27-of-29 games for MMU Softball. Her consistency on both the defensive side and at the plate helped MMU tie what was the school's single season wins record. The lead-off hitter batted .300 at the dish and posted an impressive .371 on-base percentage in her first season in collegiate softball.
Runge played a few positions on defense, but received the bulk of her starts at one of the most active positions on the field: shortstop. Not taking long to acclimate herself, Runge finished her junior year with a .952 fielding percentage.
Runge has carried both her offense and defense into her senior season. Now at a .962 fielding percentage, Runge has been a part of six double-plays on defense this season as well; a play exceedingly more difficult in softball than its counterpart.
In addition, Runge is hitting .275 in her lead-off spot with 25 hits overall and three triples. The senior has also nearly doubled her stolen base total from last year with nine in 2017.
For the teams, this will be the fifth and sixth meeting of the season. Although the teams' averages and on-base percentages are comparable, the Blue Angels have outscored the Sabercats 51-14 in the four previous engagements.
The Blue Angels are coming into the series today owning the new program record for wins in a season. An impressive performance from nearly every Blue Angel led to MMU upsetting the Milwaukee School of Engineering (25-11) on Wed. Apr. 26 in a sweep against the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference powerhouse and setting the new wins mark at 12.
Come watch the Blue Angels try and reach a new mark in their final home games of 2017. For those who cannot make it, today's games will have live stats available at mtmaryathletics.com.
