Wayne State softball coach Shelli Manson announced the signing of Nataliah Hopkins from Indian Hills Community College as a transfer to the Wildcat program for the 2017 season.
The Ottumwa, Iowa native will have two years of eligibility left in the Wayne State program and will be a pitcher for the Wildcats, joining seven high school graduates who have already signed with the Wildcats as part of their 2017 recruiting class.
“We are very excited to have Nataliah join the Wayne State softball family,” said Manson. “We expect her to take over the role of graduated Cassy Miller and be our number one pitcher. Nataliah has a great work ethic and leadership and will really by a great example for our young staff. Her experience at Indian Hills with such great coaching and high level of competition will be invaluable to us for the next two seasons in the NSIC.”
Hopkins helped Indian Hills win back-to-back conference Region 11 titles to earn a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament. She earned All-Region 11 honors this year with a 20-7 record and a 3.17 earned-run average. In 34 starts, she had 17 complete games and allowed just 82 earned runs in 181 innings while striking out 91. She helped lead Indian Hills to a 41-17 record, the most wins for the schools since 2007.
As a freshman, she was 11-4 with a 2.73 ERA, striking out 58 and posting nine complete games in 18 starts to earn second-team All-Region 11 honors.
