CLEVELAND – After one of its best regular seasons in over a decade, the Cleveland State softball program racked up the awards as the Horizon League announced its 2022 softball yearly award-winners and all-league selections on Tuesday. Melissa Holzopfel was named the Horizon's Freshman of the Year to go with nods to the All-League First Team and All-Freshman Team. Jenna Deang joined her on the All-League First Team while Becky Hurosky was chosen for All-League Second Team honors. 

It is the first time CSU has had an All-League First Team member since 2016, which was also the last time Cleveland State had two student-athletes on the All-League First Team. It is the first time the Vikings have had three All-League selections in the same season since 2015. 

"I am so proud of the hard work and dedication our young women have shown this season," head coach Amy Kyler said. "These awards recognize their strengths on the field as well as their commitment to their teammates, this program and the CSU community."

MELISSA HOLZOPFEL: FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR, ALL-LEAGUE FIRST TEAM, All-FRESHMAN TEAM

The freshman standout from Massillon, Ohio took home multiple honors as the league's Freshman of the Year to go with selections to both the All-League First Team and All-Freshman Team. 

Holzopfel led the Horizon League in strikeouts looking (52) and was second in total strikeouts overall with 208 in just 176.2 innings. With the strikeout total, Holzopfel became just the fifth student-athlete in CSU history to crack the 200-strikeout plateau in a single campaign. 

She is also ranked third in the league in victories (15) and innings pitched (176.2), fifth in complete games (15), eighth in ERA (2.89) and ninth in opponent batting average (.245).

To go with the success in the circle, Holzopfel also hit .289 at the dish with 28 hits, one home run, seven RBI, 14 runs scored and a stolen base. Her .343 on-base percentage ranked 36th overall in the Horizon.

Holzopfel becomes the first CSU student-athlete to earn Freshman of the Year honors since Erica McNew took home the prize in 2013. She is also just the third Viking to ever win the award in school history.

 JENNA DEANG: ALL-LEAGUE FIRST TEAM

Deang set the table for the CSU offense all season as the leadoff hitter in the Vikings battling lineup. The sophomore second baseman from Mokena, Ill. finished with a team-leading .322 batting average to go with 40 hits, 20 runs scored, 16 RBI and eight stolen bases. 

She is ranked tied for tenth in the Horizon in stolen bases, 11th in batting average and hits, and 15th in runs scored. 

In the field, Deang has added 94 putouts and 68 assists from the second-base position.

BECKY HUROSKY: ALL-LEAGUE SECOND TEAM

Hurosky was named to the All-League Second Team as one of the power bats behind the Viking offense this season. The Brunswick, Ohio native posted a .293 batting average to go with six home runs, 22 RBI and 14 runs scored. 

She finished the regular season tied for eighth in the Horizon in slugging percentage (.526), is ninth in homers and tied for 14th in RBI.  

Hurosky's batting average is also ranked 18th in the conference while her on-base percentage slots in at 24th overall.

For the first time since 2016, Cleveland State is headed back to the Horizon League Championships, set for Wednesday, May 11 – Saturday, May 14 at Youngstown State's YSU Softball Complex. The Vikings received a first-round bye and are slotted to play in their opening game of the tournament on Thursday, May 12 at 2:30 PM ET. The contest will be featured nationwide on ESPN+.

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