That’s gotten me a lot more success, Koss said. When I batted righthanded, all I tried to do was hit home runs. (The switch) raised my average from about .200 up to about .550.

From eighth grade until my senior year, all I did was bunt and slap-hit. I really didn’t start to hit the ball until I came here.

Brechtelsbauer said Koss brings a lot to the team in her bunting and slap-hitting ability, but she also has developed some power.

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Her speed is what gets her a lot of her triples, but she is able to drive the ball into the gaps, Brechtelsbauer said.

Coming off a sophomore season which found Koss named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference team as a utility player and the All-MVC Tournament team as a second baseman, Koss suffered through what she called a disappointing season for both her and the team. Koss’ batting average fell from .352 in 1994 to .293 in 1995 and the team finished with a 24-24 record.

The senior said she has been reminded of last year’s season from unlikely places.

I just had my cable installed and the cable guy saw our softball poster on the wall, Koss said. He said, So you play softball, you guys had an embarrassing season last year,’ and that hurt to have the cable guy come in and insult me like that.

We will not be embarrassed this year. I refuse to be embarrassed again.