SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University softball team earned major recognition from the Crossroads League following its strong 2026 season, highlighted by Emilee Underwood being named the Crossroads League Pitcher of the Year.
 
Underwood was also selected to the First Team All-Crossroads League squad alongside teammate Summer Ambler. Both players additionally earned spots on the Crossroads League Gold Glove Team.
 
For Underwood, the honor comes one year after earning honorable mention all-league recognition.
 
The junior pitcher turned in one of the top seasons in program history, finishing with a 21-10 record and a 2.01 ERA while leading the Crossroads League in wins, ERA and strikeouts. She totaled 24 complete games in 29 starts and recorded six shutouts.
 
Her 21 wins rank fourth-most in a single season in SAU history, while her 168 strikeouts are the second-most ever by a Cougar pitcher in a season. Underwood logged 191.1 innings in the circle and consistently dominated opposing lineups throughout the year.
 
She also made a major impact offensively, batting .368 with four doubles, a home run and 10 RBIs.
 
Ambler capped her standout career with another impressive season at the plate, earning the fourth all-conference honor of her career.
 
The senior led the Cougar offense in nearly every major category, posting a .410 batting average, a .665 slugging percentage and a 1.132 OPS. She collected a career-best 71 hits — the third-most in the conference — while totaling 14 doubles, three triples and eight home runs.
 
Ambler also scored 45 runs, tied for the third-most in a single season in program history, while driving in a career-high 34 RBIs.
 
Over her four-year career, Ambler finished with a .373 batting average, ranking fourth in SAU history, while totaling 18 home runs, 99 RBIs and 119 runs scored.
 
The honors cap another successful season for the Cougars, who finished the year with 33 wins and advanced to the championship round of the Crossroads League Tournament.