LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Postseason awards continue to trickle in for UIndy softball student-athlete Caitlin Bunte. The rookie phenom was named a finalist on Wednesdau for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Division II Pitcher of the Year award. Bunte was recently named the Midwest Region Pitcher of the Year by the college sports communicators after earned all-region first team accolades from the NFCA.

A native of Quincy, Ill., Bunte is major cog for a Greyhound team on the eve of its fourth consecutive super regional appearance. She currently ranks fourth in DII in WHIP (0.92), tied for 7th in wins (27) and 10th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.8). Last week she earned a win and two saves in the Greyhounds' perfect 3-0 run through the NCAA DII Midwest Regional #1.

Bunte is one of eight finalists for the national award—one hailing from each of hte country's eight regions. Also in consideration are Slippery Rock University's Maddie Cavenaugh (Atlantic Region), Augustana University's Kierra Lubovich (Central), Franklin Pierce University's Camryn Van Valkenburgh (East), Saint Leo University's Abigail Hynes (South), West Texas A&M University's Brooke Janning (South Central), Carson-Newman University's Malyiah Smith (Southeast) and California State University San Marcos' Daleah Cardenas (West). The winner  will be announced Tuesday, May 26.

UIndy's first and presently only previous winner of the award is Kenzee Smith in 2021.