ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – In a year of outstanding performances by first-year student-athletes across every program, softball pitcher Ellie Peterson has been selected the College of Saint Benedict "Rookie of the Year," according to an announcement by the athletic department today (Tuesday, June 6).

Peterson was selected the "Rookie of the Year" from a talented and high-achieving group of student-athlete nominees. As they transitioned to collegiate life, these first-year standouts were part of history-making performances at CSB. The student-athletes' contributions enabled CSB to finish second in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) All Sports Trophy race as teams set a high standard of success. 

Nominees for the award included: Brooke Beier, tennis; Lauren Berg, track and field; Jamie Bimberg, golf; Sami Hackley, lacrosse; Mary Kenney, cross country; Mackenzie Knofczynski, volleyball; Chloe Lewis, hockey; Megan Morgan, basketball; Peterson, softball; Addison Stephani, soccer; and Rachel Schlueter, swim and dive.

 

In a remarkable season, Peterson won 13 of 16 decisions, and ranked in the top five of four MIAC pitching categories. This is her third Rookie of the Year designation as Peterson was honored by the MIAC and named by the NFCA as the DIII Region IX Rookie of the Year while being recognized as one of 10 national finalists.

"Ellie made an immediate impact on our team," said Saint Ben's head softball coach Rachael Click. "She provided depth to our pitching staff, and we are so proud of everything she accomplished as a first year.  Not only was she able to shut down some talented offensive teams, but she did so with great confidence and composure," said Click, whose team finished 26-8 with a 16-6 mark for second place in the MIAC. 

Along with senior Elly Novak, Peterson helped form a powerful duo in the circle this season for the Bennies as each of them recorded 13 wins, a total that is tied for the 10^th for most wins in a season at CSB.  Peterson, an exercise science major from St. Anthony Village, Minn., threw a pair of five inning no hitters including against Augsburg on April 8 when she had seven strikeouts as well as Macalester on April 19 when Peterson had four strikeouts. She had a season high of nine strikeouts vs. York (Pa.) on March 9.

With Peterson's contributions, CSB was nationally ranked for most of the season, reaching as high as No. 13 (April 11), as they advanced to the MIAC Tournament Championship for the first time since 2017.  The Bennies also have recorded 26 or more wins in a season for the sixth straight year and 20 wins or more for the past 10 full seasons.

Click was impressed by Peterson's attitude, resilience and focus in her first year with the program.

"She is a coachable, competitive and a great teammate," said Click of Peterson. "We are so excited to watch Ellie succeed in the future and continue to raise the bar for CSB softball."  

In finishing 13-3, Peterson had 11 complete games and a 2.12 earned run average for fourth in the MIAC. She allowed opponents just a .188 batting average for third in the league and fourth best for a season all-time at CSB.

She was fourth in the MIAC in strikeouts with 80 in 92.1 innings and ranked fifth in batters striking out while looking with 24. Peterson allowed just 62 hits for eighth in the MIAC and had only 25 walks with three shutouts in 16 games. Seven times she had six or more strikeouts with her 6.06 strikeouts per seven innings ranking 17^th all-time at CSB.With her stellar work in the circle, CSB ranked second in the MIAC in earned run average at 2.19; second in strikeouts with 214 and second in opponent batting average at .204.

In MIAC games, Peterson recorded eight wins for third best total across the league while also ranking third in runs allowed with 20 across 61.1 innings. In batting average at .187, she was third while sitting fourth in ERA at 2.28 and strikeouts with 56.