April 8, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

by Greg Applegate, WWU Sports Information Office

When the softball season began, Western Washington University expected to have five freshmen starting, but Michelle Wrigley was not one of them. That all changed after one game and now well over halfway through the season, she has been the Vikings' best all-around player.

The former Inglemoor High School standout leads the team in hitting with a .366 (34-for-93) batting average through 29 games, including team highs in runs (21), doubles (8) and multi-hit games (9). Her 10-game hitting streak is the longest of the season for Western, the defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion.

Wrigley only had a pinch-hitting appearance in the Vikings' 2008 debut as they were no-hit by Cal State Stanislaus. But she has started every game since.

"After our season opener, I needed to make some adjustments," said Western coach Lonnie Hicks. "So, I wanted to try her in the outfield and she just made left field her home. She's done a really good job."

"We expected her to produce, but I truly didn't expect her to produce the way she has. She goes up to the plate expecting to get a hit. She is a power hitter who can also bunt very well."

Wrigley, who was recruited as a catcher, has proven herself to be a consistent outfielder, having yet to commit an error. Wrigley, who throws right-handed but hits lefty, has a simple approach to hitting.

"I try not to look at [my statistics]," Wrigley said. "I just think, `see the ball, hit the ball.' I try not to think about anything because thinking gets you in trouble."

Wrigley, who has a team-best .398 on-base percentage, spent much of the early season as the Vikings' clean-up hitter. Hicks then wanted to take advantage of her ability to get on base by putting her in the two or three spot in the lineup.

Wrigley said it doesn't matter what spot in the lineup she's in. "I don't try to approach it any different," she said. "I just try to do the same things to try to get on."

Wrigley credits her performance to her teammates, including two she attended high school with, catcher/designated hitter Samantha Rutherford and pitcher Emily Hardin, for helping ease the transition to college-level softball.

"We're basically just a bunch of friends who play together," she said. Hicks added that not only does this team get along well with each other, but Wrigley brings a fun, yet competitive side to the game.

"She's quick with the one-liners," Hicks said. "You could be talking about anything and she'll just say something that will crack everybody up. She just has a very positive, fun approach to playing softball."