Karau leads honors for Pioneers in All-WIAC

MADISON, Wis. -- The 2015 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Softball Team was announced on Tuesday and three Pioneers made the squad. Lisa Karau was selected to the All-WIAC softball team, junior Carley Rote received honorable mention and sophomore pitcher Jess Butzen made the All-Sportsmanship team. 

Karau, the senior shortstop from Mosinee, Wis., played in 27 of the team's 40 games this season. In that time she garnered 35 hits with 90 appearances at the plate for a team-high .389 batting average, good for seventh overall in the WIAC. She also led the team in doubles (14) and on base percentage (.434). The 14 doubles was a WIAC second-best. She also brought in 18 RBIs and tallied 20 runs.

Rote, the junior from McConnell, Ill., was selected as a utility player (centerfield, shortstop, third base) and saw the second most at bats on the team with 122. With those appearances she was able to accumulate a team-high 26 RBIs off of 34 hits, 11 of which were doubles. She led the team in walks with 15, trailed only to her sister in home runs with three and played in all 40 of the Pioneers' games this season.

Butzen was the go-to pitcher for the Pioneers, racking up 105.1 innings pitched. She led the team in strikeouts (41) and wins (5).