Crimson & Gray Awards | 

INDIANA, Pa. – Softball outfielder Kassie Kesneck (Houston, Pa./Chartiers-Houston) has been named the 2016-17 IUP Women's Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. The award was announced on Thursday, June 8 by the IUP Athletic Department.
 
The award is part of the newly established Crimson & Gray Awards, which recognize the top athletes, coaches, teams and performances of the IUP Athletics season.
 
The Breakthrough Athlete of the Year Award is in its first year of existence.
 
Kesneck didn't enter her true freshman year at IUP with high expectations, earning a walk-on spot with the Crimson Hawks in the fall. She failed to see any playing time through the first five games of the season, but flashed some potential at The Spring Games in Clermont, Florida, hitting .455 with two doubles, a home run, and three runs batted in seven games (three starts).
 
Those spring break numbers helped Kesneck turn into IUP's regular starting left fielder, as she finished third on the team with a .294 batting average and .424 slugging percentage, while also stealing nine bases on 10 attempts and driving in 15 runs despite missing time with an injury.
 
Kesneck had the longest hitting streak of any Crimson Hawks player, hitting safely in 12 straight games from April 10-28. She boasted a .417 batting average with five extra-base hits and 11 RBI during that span, as IUP went 10-2 in those games.
 
Up next
The 2016-17 IUP Men's Breakthrough Athlete of the Year will be announced at 2:30 p.m. today. The men's and women's Postseason Performers of the Year winners will be announced Monday, June 12.
 
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