CSC Academic All-District® release
The College of Wooster softball team's Rachael Dudziak, Ciara Herbert, and Sarah Lodge were among the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® honorees for softball, as announced by the organization on Tuesday afternoon.
Dudziak, a junior pitcher who earned All-North Coast Athletic Conference honors, went 5-3 with a 5.18 ERA over 17 appearances this spring. The right-hander worked 52 2/3 innings and struck out 15 batters in 2023. Dudziak started the year by firing the ninth no-hitter in program history. Wooster beat Asbury University 8-0 in the game. Dudziak handcuffed Ohio Wesleyan University with four innings of shutout softball and blanked Oberlin College over three innings.
This summer, Dudziak has an internship lined up in the neuroimaging lab at Boystown Research Hospital. The neuroscience major has field experience as an observer within the neurological institute at the Cleveland Clinic. There, Dudziak observed approaches with patients, comprehensive intake processes, and treatment plans. She gathered and documented information on patient symptomology and family history.
On campus, Dudziak started as a teaching assistant for a neuroscience lecture-based course and laboratory this spring. She is one of the softball team's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representatives, is a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar-Athlete, a member of the North Coast Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll and is on the Dean's List at the College. Dudziak works in the athletic department in game operations and as a desk worker.
Herbert, a junior outfielder, played in 29 games this spring. She hit .258 (8-for-31) with eight runs scored and seven stolen bases as a junior. Herbert's hits came in pairs, with two each against Geneva College, Westminster College (Pa.), Capital University, and DePauw University. She added two runs and two stolen bases to the line against the Golden Tornadoes.
The self-designed physical therapy major gained field experience as an outpatient clinic shadow last summer in her hometown of Riverside, Illinois. There, Herbert observed physical therapists and assisted with equipment during rehabilitation sessions. On campus, Herbert is a student athletic trainer, who works both games and practices. She is a NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete and a member of the NCAC Academic Honor Roll.
Lodge saw time in 30 games this spring as an outfielder in the flex position in the lineup. The sophomore clubbed her first collegiate home run at Oberlin and scored twice against Denison University and Muskingum University.
The economics and education major has over 100 hours of field experience at local schools through the College's education department. She is a social media intern for the athletic communication team. There, Lodge is responsible for all the gameday and final score graphics on the department's main Instagram account and created all of the social media content for NCAA Div. III Week. Lodge profiles student-athletes through other social media initiatives, like Scot Spotlights and content surrounding International Education Week. She is also involved with SAAC and works in game operations and the athletic department desk.
Wooster's trio are on the Academic All-America® ballot, which is voted on by CSC members in advance of the announcement of the Academic All-America® team on June 6. Starting with the 2022-23 academic year, all eligible nominees submitted by member schools earn Academic All-District® status. Nominees were voted to the Academic All-District® Team in previous years and those winners advanced to the Academic All-America® ballot.