Megan Mullen Named NSIC Freshman Of The Year

May 6

Northland Sports Online

Megan Mullen, who closed out the 2011 regular season on a tear by winning her last nine pitching decisions, has been selected the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Freshman of the Year and was among five University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs to receive all-league recognition.

Mullen, of Hermantown led the Hawks to a second place finish in last year’s state tournament made the transition to college a smooth one, picking up 13 wins in her first season with the Bulldogs.

Mullen entered the postseason sporting a 13-8 overall record, including an 11-2 mark in NSI play, and a 2.46 earned run average while racking up a team-high 166 strikeouts in 136 1/3 innings of work. She also topped the 2011 Bulldog mound corps in a number of other statistical categories during the regular season including shutouts (a school record-tying six), appearances (26), starts (19) and complete games (17). At the plate, she batted .338 to go with six home runs and a .649 slugging percentage.

Mullen becomes the first Bulldog to win the NSIC Freshman of the Year Award since 2002 (pitcher Jill Struck). Sophomore second baseman and Duluth East High School product Tyra Kerr, who turned in a personal-best .385 regular season batting average and only made three errors in 122 fielding chances, was the lone UMD representative on the 15-member All-NSIC first team.

Mullen, senior third baseman Sammie Gardner (Burnsville, Minn.), senior catcher Ashley Johnson (Rosemount, Minn.) and sophomore shortstop Kierra Jeffers (Richfield, Minn.) were all second team selections. Johnson, UMD’s career hits, home runs, runs batted in, total bases and doubles leader, was also an All-NSIC second team pick one year ago.

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