NASHVILLE – Redshirt senior pitcher Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) of the Drake University softball team was selected 13th by the Aussie Peppers of Minnesota in the 2019 National Pro Fastpitch College Draft presented by Park Planet Monday night. Newman, who is the first-ever Drake player drafted by the NPF will play her first professional season this summer close to Des Moines and her hometown of Madison, Wis., with the Peppers based out of North Mankato, Minn. for the 2019 season.
 
Newman, who is already Drake's all-time career leader in strikeouts (1,055) and wins (81), is having a tremendous final season for the Bulldogs. She is 17-6 with a 1.11 earned run average and a nation-best 255 strikeouts. Newman also leads the nation in hits allowed per seven innings (3.01) and strikeouts per seven innings (12.8). Her win total is tied for the most in the Missouri Valley Conference, her ERA is the best mark in the MVC and her innings pitched (139.1) and opponent batting average (.126) are also tops in the Valley. Newman has thrown three perfect games, including one last weekend against Loyola and been named MVC Pitcher of the Week seven times. Newman has recorded nine straight complete games where she has struck out 10 or more in each victory.
 
Newman was selected to the 2018 NFCA Third Team All-America team, is two-time MVC Pitcher of the Year winner and a three-time All-MVC First Team selection. She needs 32 more strikeouts to become the Valley's all-time leader and four more victories for No. 2 all-time. Newman was selected to the 2018 USA Softball Top 25 Collegiate Player of the Year finalists list and to the top 50 watch list for the 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award. She has won MVC Pitcher of the Week an impressive 18 times in her career.
 
Newman and her teammates host Iowa Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the first of four scheduled home games at Buel Field.