Spencer named a top Division III player

Versatile junior outfielder Gabby Spencer was named to the 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division III National Player and Pitcher of the Year Top 50 list after taking up another role as pitcher.

Spencer is one of two Bennies included on the list, which already includes fellow junior pitcher Elly Novak, who made this year’s list as one of the 26 returning All-Americans eligible for the award.

“I didn’t even know about it until Elly Novak sent it to me and I was just shocked. I would never have expected to make that list with so many other division III players. It was just something I wouldn’t have expected to happen so it was really cool for me,” Spencer said.

Spencer earned First Team All-MIAC honors as a sophomore last year after batting .346 with four home runs and three RBIs.

Her 37 hits were the most on the team last year.

Spencer has 34 hits so far this year with 13 regular season games remaining. She attributes her success to her work ethic.

“I do extra throwing and hitting so I’m always putting in extra work outside of practice,” Spencer said.

Teammate Kennedy Pexa agreed.

“Gabby comes to practice ready to work every day,” Pexa said. “I can’t wait to see what she continues to do this year and in future years.”

Her offseason work is similarly intense, an intensity she feels driven to achieve in order to support her teammates.

“In the offseason, I do a lot of lifting to get stronger and be able to perform better for the team, so everything that I do is for my team,” Spencer said.

The rest of the team was less surprised than Spencer to hear of her nomination to the Top 50 List.

“At this point with how I’ve been performing, they were very happy for me, but they saw it coming,” Spencer said.