The Boilermaker softball program will benefit from the knowledge and presence of three-time all-region selection and two-year veteran of National Pro Fastpitch Ashley Burkhardt for another year, as she takes on the role of volunteer assistant coach for the second straight season.
"I'm very excited to welcome Ashley to our staff as our volunteer assistant," head coach Boo DeOliveira said. "She was a highly decorated student-athlete at Purdue. She bleeds black and old gold. Her knowledge of the game, her love of Purdue, and her integrity will all be huge assets to our program in our quest for championships."
Burkhardt (2012-15), who also served in the role last season while finishing her degree in applied exercise and health, has spent the last two summers playing NPF after being drafted by the Dallas Charge in 2015. Her four-year playing career at Purdue saw the infielder earn three-straight All-Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association. The school's game record-holder for stolen bases wrapped her career ranked fifth among Boilermakers in batting average (.335) and RBI (122). She also ranked fourth in career sacrifice flies (8).
Burkhardt earned first team All-Midwest Region accolades at first base in 2015, following third team accolades at first base in 2014 and first team honors at second base in 2013. The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native garnered first team All-Big Ten accolades in 2014 and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
The Bishop Dwenger High School alumna set the school record for stolen bases in a game with four against Western Michigan on March 15, 2015, and tied the school's game record for home runs with two against Coastal Carolina on Feb. 14, 2014. Burkhardt earned four spots on the season listings in 2015, ranking tied for second in slugging percentage (.681); third in RBI (48); and fifth in batting average (.393), home runs (11) and sacrifice flies (4). She also recorded four sac flies in 2014 to tie for fifth on that season listing.
Burkhardt was a steady presence in the field and consistent force at the plate, reaching base in 136 of 167 games her final three seasons (81 percent) and in 77 percent of her 214 career games, while supplying a .250 or better batting average each season, including .320 or better each of her last three campaigns. She led the team in runs scored her sophomore and senior seasons, while also driving in a team-best 43 RBI her senior year. A career .335 hitter, Burkhardt managed 63 extra-base hits, with 31 doubles, nine triples and 23 home runs. The two-time Big Ten Player of the Week (Feb. 16, 2015, and Feb. 18, 2014) also was a threat on the basepaths, swiping 55 bases in 68 attempts (81 percent). Defensively, she converted on 96 percent of her 1,080 career chances, including a 98 percent success rate her final two seasons.
The daughter of Scott and Jennifer Burkhardt was a two-time all-state selection as a prepster, while leading her team to three-straight conference crowns.
"I'm very excited to welcome Ashley to our staff as our volunteer assistant," head coach Boo DeOliveira said. "She was a highly decorated student-athlete at Purdue. She bleeds black and old gold. Her knowledge of the game, her love of Purdue, and her integrity will all be huge assets to our program in our quest for championships."
Burkhardt (2012-15), who also served in the role last season while finishing her degree in applied exercise and health, has spent the last two summers playing NPF after being drafted by the Dallas Charge in 2015. Her four-year playing career at Purdue saw the infielder earn three-straight All-Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association. The school's game record-holder for stolen bases wrapped her career ranked fifth among Boilermakers in batting average (.335) and RBI (122). She also ranked fourth in career sacrifice flies (8).
Burkhardt earned first team All-Midwest Region accolades at first base in 2015, following third team accolades at first base in 2014 and first team honors at second base in 2013. The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native garnered first team All-Big Ten accolades in 2014 and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
The Bishop Dwenger High School alumna set the school record for stolen bases in a game with four against Western Michigan on March 15, 2015, and tied the school's game record for home runs with two against Coastal Carolina on Feb. 14, 2014. Burkhardt earned four spots on the season listings in 2015, ranking tied for second in slugging percentage (.681); third in RBI (48); and fifth in batting average (.393), home runs (11) and sacrifice flies (4). She also recorded four sac flies in 2014 to tie for fifth on that season listing.
Burkhardt was a steady presence in the field and consistent force at the plate, reaching base in 136 of 167 games her final three seasons (81 percent) and in 77 percent of her 214 career games, while supplying a .250 or better batting average each season, including .320 or better each of her last three campaigns. She led the team in runs scored her sophomore and senior seasons, while also driving in a team-best 43 RBI her senior year. A career .335 hitter, Burkhardt managed 63 extra-base hits, with 31 doubles, nine triples and 23 home runs. The two-time Big Ten Player of the Week (Feb. 16, 2015, and Feb. 18, 2014) also was a threat on the basepaths, swiping 55 bases in 68 attempts (81 percent). Defensively, she converted on 96 percent of her 1,080 career chances, including a 98 percent success rate her final two seasons.
The daughter of Scott and Jennifer Burkhardt was a two-time all-state selection as a prepster, while leading her team to three-straight conference crowns.