Miranda Kramer’s record-setting weekend against Charlotte is nothing new for the senior transfer. 

The former Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne pitcher tabbed a Conference USA record-setting 18 strikeouts (previously 17, Aimee Creger, Tulsa, 2014) in the series’ third leg. 

Even though the Lady Toppers dropped the final contest of the series in a 3-1 decision that took 11 innings to culminate, WKU had taken care of the business end of things in the first two legs, clenching the series with scores of 1-0 and 3-1 respectively. 

Despite falling one strikeout short of matching her career best in game three, Kramer was able to match her no-hitter in game two. 

She nabbed her second no-hitter of the season (and of her career) off of a 10 strikeout performance from the mound.

Impressively enough, the C-USA record 18 strikeouts isn’t even Kramer’s top mark in a Lady Topper uniform.

The six-time C-USA Pitcher of the Week tabbed a career-high 19 strikeouts in an even more impressive seven innings (opposed to the extended 11 this weekend) against Troy in February, and her tally of six conference honors is a WKU record across all collegiate athletics (for weekly conference honors), and one shy of a tying the C-USA record.  

Her 19-strikeout performance against Troy accounted for her first and the program’s eighth no-hitter, yet Kramer ends this past weekend now holding two to her name and gave WKU its ninth.   

Before this weekend’s series, Kramer ranked first in strikeouts per seven innings (13.5), second in total shutouts (10) and total strikeouts (287) and third in ERA (.94). 

Even with numbers that have earned her six individual conference honors already this season ,and a spot on the list of 26 finalists for the USA Softball Player of the Year award, there is more to the senior’s transfer than meets the eye. 

Her shift to WKU in the Conference USA from IPFW in the Summit League certainly helped thrust her in the national spotlight—the Summit League, while still Division I offers a lesser level of competition in terms of strength and level of competition.

Equally as important as the level of competition towards Kramer’s development into a professional-caliber athlete is the rekindling of her athlete-coach relationship with Amy Tudor.

Tudor coached Kramer at IPFW prior to their move to WKU. Tudor spent just one season on staff before reuniting with Kramer, who announced she would be transferring to WKU for her senior season. 

Since coming to the Hill, Kramer has become just the second player in WKU softball history to be drafted professionally.  She was selected sixth overall in the National Pro Fastpitch draft by the Pennsylvania Rebellion. 

Whether you call it innate athletic ability from Kramer or the ability to really get the best out of players from Tudor—the relationship certainly hasn’t hurt Kramer’s future as an athlete after graduation or the future of the Lady Topper softball program.