MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State junior Mackenzie Ward has been named to the D2CCA All-American First Team for her efforts on the field this past season.

A pitcher from Clive, Iowa, Ward finished her season ranked at or near the top of several NCAA Division II categories including strikeouts (316/1st), hits allowed per seven innings (3.79/3rd), wins (24/3rd), games started (28/7th), ERA (0.90/8th), WHIP (0.85/9th) and complete games (20/10th).

Ward finished her 2021 campaign with a 24-5 record, to go along with a 0.90 ERA. She also held opposing batters to a .157 batting average. She was also the second player in team history to record more than 300 strikeouts in a season. Ward struck out at least 10 batters in 18 games this past season, including a career-high 19 batters against Bemidji State.

Earlier this season, Ward was named the NSIC Pitcher of the Week five times, and later became the second Maverick to claim NSIC Pitcher of the Year honors. Ward also claimed NFCA All-American First Team honors and is just the third Maverick to claim D2CCA All-American accolades, joining Coley Ries and Jessica Meidl.

Minnesota State finished its 2021 season with a 40-10 record as it advanced to the final day of the NCAA Central Region Tournament.


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