WKU pitcher Miranda Kramer became the first player in Lady Topper history to be drafted by a National Pro Fastpitch team when the senior transfer was drafted sixth by the Pennsylvania Rebellion.  Kramer was the Rebellion’s first pick in the draft. 

Kramer has been grabbing national attention in her inaugural season on the Hill, leading the nation in strikeouts per seven innings with 13.8, sitting tied for first place in the nation with seven shut. 

“I’m really excited for Miranda,” senior teammate Dani Pugh said. “She’s a great pitcher, and she really deserves it.”

In just 20 appearances (19 starts) as a Lady Topper, Kramer has tabbed a staggering 235 strikeouts, which puts her third nationally and third in the WKU record books.  

The left-handed pitcher places fourth in hits allowed per seven innings with an average of 3.19, and her ERA of 1.06 placed her at 10th in the NCAA. 

Head Coach Amy Tudor said she was expecting Kramer to be drafted.

“It’s exciting, you know. I’m very proud of her and for her,” Tudor said. “She’s a special player, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Kramer is from West Burlington, Iowa. She transfered from Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) where she played her first three years. 

A graduate of Burlington Community High School, she had an overall record of 18-4 in her final high school season and ERA 0.80 after total of 149 innings.  She tabbed 663 strikeouts over the course of her BCHS career. 

As a freshman at IPFW, Kramer was named Summit League Pitcher of the Week, on May 7, 2012, after setting a new school record of 14 strikeouts in a single game against South Dakota.

Kramer finished her freshman campaign with an overall record of 16-5 with an ERA of 1.87. Four times that season, Kramer struck out 10 or more batters in a row.

Kramer’s sophomore year she pitched 36 games, starting 31. The season consisted of a 22-10 record for her and an ERA of 1.88 that ranked 4th in the Summit League. 

Kramer notched 11 games worth of double-digit strikeouts and a season best of 16 strikeouts in a game against Lipscomb in 2013.

In 2014 as a junior at IPFW Kramer started 32 of the 37 games that she threw and was named Summit League Pitcher of the Year after being named Summit League Pitcher of the Week six times. 

She finished the year 20-10 and an ERA of 1.93 after pitching 202.2 innings. Kramer only allowed 132 hits with 18 double-digit strikeout performances.

As an interdisciplinary studies major in her senior season of eligibility on the Hill, Kramer has received multiple honors, including NCAA’s Active Career Leader with 1,000 strikeouts, four-time C-USA Pitcher of the Week, espnW’s National Player of the Week and the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Pitcher of the week. 

Kramer will play with former WKU softball player Olivia Watkins (NCAA Stolen Base Leader of 2014) on Rebellion this upcoming year. Watkins signed with the team in May of 2014 while Kramer was drafted.

While being excited with what the future holds, Kramer has remained focused on her time as a Lady Topper. 

“Oh it’s great,” Kramer said. “It’s a great opportunity, but I mean, like for everybody else, I have to think about the here and the now and go on with what I can do best for Western Kentucky right now.”