FARGO, N.D.--With her collegiate career completed, former North Dakota State University pitcher
Krista Menke is taking her talents overseas and pitching for DSS Haarlem in the Netherlands. Menke pitched on May 30, striking out 12 in a two-hit 9-2 win over Alcmaria Victrix.
Menke, a 5-foot-11 righthander from Friend, Neb., is the third player to play overseas, joining all-region pitcher and teammate
Whitney Johnson (Netherlands) and former All-American catcher
Shelly Rhein (Italy).
"We are excited for this opportunity for Krista. We wish her the best of luck this summer," said NDSU head coach
Darren Mueller.
A nine-time Summit League Pitcher of the Week this season, Menke capped off an impressive senior year with a 34-6 record including 13 shutouts, three saves and 2.11 earned run average. She recorded four of her career five no-hitters during the season. Menke reached double-figure strikeouts in 23 games including a career-high 16 on three occasions. She finished with a NDSU and Summit League single-season record 391 strikeouts.
Menke was selected Summit League Pitcher of the Year and Summit League Tournament MVP for the second time in her career. She was named to the all-Summit League first team, NFCA All-Midwest Region first team and the NCAA Eugene Regional all-tournament team. Menke earned Summit League April Female Athlete of the Month honors and was a finalist for NDSU Female Athlete of the Year.
Menke was named to the 2015 Capital One Academic All-America® Division I softball second team. A two-time Summit League Softball All-Academic team selection, she been named to the league's Commissioner's List and Honor Roll . Menke was a candidate for the NCAA Senior CLASS Award this season and has been a NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete during her career.
North Dakota State (45-11) won its sixth Summit League Softball Tournament Championship over the past seven seasons to advance to the NCAA Eugene Regional. NDSU defeated Fresno State and BYU before falling to No. 2 overall seed Oregon in the championship game. The Bison also won their fourth straight league regular season crown.
