Lange Tabbed NFCA All-America
6/1/2022 6:00:00 PM | Softball
Softball standout honored among nation's best for all-around excellence
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In recognition of her tremendous contributions across all phases of the game, GW softball graduate student Sierra Lange was named an NFCA All-American on Wednesday, a fitting accolade to cap a historic run in Buff and Blue.
Lange was voted to the All-America Third Team as utility/pitcher after leading her squad to a second straight Atlantic 10 regular season title and a return to the postseason in her final collegiate campaign. The Plano, Texas, native left no doubt about her place among the nation's top all-around performers, repeating as A-10 Pitcher of the Year while stoking the Buff and Blue's offense with her consistent production out of the leadoff spot.
Already GW's first three-time All-Region First Team selection, Lange becomes the second NFCA All-American in program history, joining former teammate Jenna Cone. She was one of just eight non-Power 5 honorees this year to crack the exclusive list honoring the nation's best on the diamond.
"Sierra Lange is extraordinary, and we are thrilled she is being recognized as an All-American," Head Coach Chrissy Schoonmaker said. "Sierra has inked a truly remarkable career here at GW, and she has earned this prestigious honor as one of the best dual-threat players in the country.
"Sierra is dedicated to excellence and has been a leader both on the field and in our locker room. She has elevated our program with her play, her work ethic and how she shows up every day as a teammate. Her legacy will be indelibly etched in GW softball history."
This spring, Lange authored a fantastic final chapter to her decorated career, making a difference in the circle, at the plate, in the field and on the bases for a club that went 36-17 overall and closed the season at the National Invitational Softball Championship.
GW's ace finished among the national leaders in a slew of pitching categories with a 27-11 record thanks to a 2.40 ERA and 223 strikeouts in 240 1/3 innings. She went the distance in 28 of her 41 starts and tossed six shutouts, including a no-hitter in the regular season finale at UMass.
Lange became the first student-athlete to win back-to-back A-10 Pitcher of the Year awards in a decade, boosted by a 16-2 mark vs. conference competition in the regular season, and then she added three more wins at the A-10 Championship to help the Buff and Blue within one victory of a return to the NCAA Tournament.
Offensively, Lange was a force at the top of the lineup, compiling a .333/.431/.512 slash line over 53 games with 12 doubles, three triples and four home runs.Â
The graduate student paced the A-10 with 49 runs scored, drove in 23 more, set a career high with 19 steals and struck out just five times in 168 at-bats. In conference play, she posted a .510 OBP, reaching base in 23 of 24 contests on the strength of 30 hits and 14 walks.
She also did her part defensively for a group that ranked among the top 10 nationally and set a program record with a .979 fielding percentage.
Her career now complete, Lange's sustained brilliance is reflected in the program record book.Â
She's atop almost every pitching category, with most of them by a wide margin, after piling up 94 wins, 785 strikeouts, 91 complete games and 18 shutouts across 829 1/3 innings over 158 appearances in her four seasons on the field.
Among Buff and Blue batters, Lange ranks in the top five all-time in batting average (.377), hits (241), runs (169), RBIs (126), extra-base hits (76), total bases (370), on-base percentage (.438) and slugging percentage (.578). In the season finale vs. Bowling Green at the NISC, she slugged her 15th career triple to equal Hall of Famer Elana Meyers Taylor for most in program history.
Of course, Lange's impact on the Buff and Blue stretches well beyond those lofty statistics. She helped the program to reach unprecedented heights with two A-10 Championship titles and two regular season crowns while bringing her best to the most pressure-packed moments.
That excellence was recognized by the NFCA's national panel on Wednesday with a spot among 54 All-Americans representing 34 of the most elite programs across the country, another well-deserved honor on Lange's distinguished resume.
Lange was voted to the All-America Third Team as utility/pitcher after leading her squad to a second straight Atlantic 10 regular season title and a return to the postseason in her final collegiate campaign. The Plano, Texas, native left no doubt about her place among the nation's top all-around performers, repeating as A-10 Pitcher of the Year while stoking the Buff and Blue's offense with her consistent production out of the leadoff spot.
Already GW's first three-time All-Region First Team selection, Lange becomes the second NFCA All-American in program history, joining former teammate Jenna Cone. She was one of just eight non-Power 5 honorees this year to crack the exclusive list honoring the nation's best on the diamond.
"Sierra Lange is extraordinary, and we are thrilled she is being recognized as an All-American," Head Coach Chrissy Schoonmaker said. "Sierra has inked a truly remarkable career here at GW, and she has earned this prestigious honor as one of the best dual-threat players in the country.
"Sierra is dedicated to excellence and has been a leader both on the field and in our locker room. She has elevated our program with her play, her work ethic and how she shows up every day as a teammate. Her legacy will be indelibly etched in GW softball history."
This spring, Lange authored a fantastic final chapter to her decorated career, making a difference in the circle, at the plate, in the field and on the bases for a club that went 36-17 overall and closed the season at the National Invitational Softball Championship.
GW's ace finished among the national leaders in a slew of pitching categories with a 27-11 record thanks to a 2.40 ERA and 223 strikeouts in 240 1/3 innings. She went the distance in 28 of her 41 starts and tossed six shutouts, including a no-hitter in the regular season finale at UMass.
Lange became the first student-athlete to win back-to-back A-10 Pitcher of the Year awards in a decade, boosted by a 16-2 mark vs. conference competition in the regular season, and then she added three more wins at the A-10 Championship to help the Buff and Blue within one victory of a return to the NCAA Tournament.
Offensively, Lange was a force at the top of the lineup, compiling a .333/.431/.512 slash line over 53 games with 12 doubles, three triples and four home runs.Â
The graduate student paced the A-10 with 49 runs scored, drove in 23 more, set a career high with 19 steals and struck out just five times in 168 at-bats. In conference play, she posted a .510 OBP, reaching base in 23 of 24 contests on the strength of 30 hits and 14 walks.
She also did her part defensively for a group that ranked among the top 10 nationally and set a program record with a .979 fielding percentage.
Her career now complete, Lange's sustained brilliance is reflected in the program record book.Â
She's atop almost every pitching category, with most of them by a wide margin, after piling up 94 wins, 785 strikeouts, 91 complete games and 18 shutouts across 829 1/3 innings over 158 appearances in her four seasons on the field.
Among Buff and Blue batters, Lange ranks in the top five all-time in batting average (.377), hits (241), runs (169), RBIs (126), extra-base hits (76), total bases (370), on-base percentage (.438) and slugging percentage (.578). In the season finale vs. Bowling Green at the NISC, she slugged her 15th career triple to equal Hall of Famer Elana Meyers Taylor for most in program history.
Of course, Lange's impact on the Buff and Blue stretches well beyond those lofty statistics. She helped the program to reach unprecedented heights with two A-10 Championship titles and two regular season crowns while bringing her best to the most pressure-packed moments.
That excellence was recognized by the NFCA's national panel on Wednesday with a spot among 54 All-Americans representing 34 of the most elite programs across the country, another well-deserved honor on Lange's distinguished resume.
Players Mentioned
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