Trio collects NEC All-Conference nods
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After completing the most successful season since making the leap to Division I, the Bryant University Softball team received postseason accolades for the first time in program history, as Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.), Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) and Kate Murray (Fitchburg, Mass.) were all named to the 2011 Northeast Conference Second Team.
The Bulldogs, who finished in a tie for second-place in the final NEC regular season polls, finished with a 25-19 overall mark and the club went 14-6 in league play. Bryant more than tripled its conference win total from a year ago and the 25 overall victories marks a program best at the Division I level.
Mable, a standout rookie, finished tops in the NEC in four offensive categories, including batting average (.419), slugging percentage (.718), on-base percentage (.514) and doubles (14). Additionally, she led the Bulldogs with 30 RBIs. The clutch-hitting shortstop has already etched her named into the Bryant record books with her remarkable freshman season, as the Colorado native recorded the fourth-best single season batting average, sixth-most scored runs in a single season, third-most doubles in a single year, sixth-most total bases in a single season and generated the second-highest slugging percentage in a single season. In terms of career marks, Mable has yet to play multiple seasons but already ranks among the best in batting average and slugging percentage.
Corder, a fellow freshman, threw out 13 would-be base stealers. She hit .300 on the year with 36 hits, 25 runs, 25 RBIs and four homeruns. The California catcher recorded her best performance in 2011 against Wagner College, when the rookie belted all four of her career home runs in the twinbill, going 6-for-7 with an astonishing 10 RBIs on the afternoon. A staple in the defensive lineup, the freshman played in 43 games and made over 115 plate appearances in her first go-around. Both Mable and Corder were selected as NEC Rookies of the Week during the regular season on three different occasions.
Sophomore outfielder Murray had the Bulldogs' second-highest batting average (.364) and on-base percentage (.443). The Massachusetts native finished 2011 with 6 RBIs and 11 runs scored while posting nearly 20 hits in 20 conference matchups. Murray generated a .532 slugging clip in league play and wrapped up the campaign with a .957 fielding percentage.
2011 Northeast Conference All-Conference Selections
Player of the Year
Taylor Froelich OF Sr. Sacred Heart
Golden Glove
Ashley Heiberger C Jr. Quinnipiac
Pitcher of the Year
Heather Schwartzburg P Jr Quinnipiac
Rookie of the Year
Jordan Paolucci 3B Fr. Quinnipiac
Most Improved Player
Nicole Sidor UT So. Sacred Heart
Coaching Staff of the Year
Robert Morris
First Team
Taylor Froelich OF Sr. Sacred Heart
Jordan Paolucci 3B Fr. Quinnipiac
Nicole Sidor UT So. Sacred Heart
Heather Schwartzburg P Jr Quinnipiac
Jen Russell P Sr. Sacred Heart
Emily deLong C Sr. Monmouth
Christine Scherr 2B So. Monmouth
Bianca Mejia SS Sr. Long Island
Caitlin Bradac 1B Jr. Fairleigh Dickinson
Allie Patton OF Jr. Robert Morris
Jaci Timko OF Jr. Robert Morris
Annie Dubovec DP Sr. Robert Morris
Second Team
Lauren Sulick P Jr. Monmouth
Alexa Bryson P Jr. Robert Morris
Kendall Corder C Fr. Bryant
Courtney Lee 1B Sr. Sacred Heart
Jacqueline Ristow 2B Jr. Quinnipiac
Maritza Jimenez 3B So Robert Morris
Aubrey Mable SS Fr. Bryant
Kate Murray OF So. Bryant
Arielle Bruno OF FR. CCSU
Courtney Zingle OF Jr. MSM
Liz Tsipouras DP JR SHU
Maire Shaughnessy UT So FDU