Coleman and Coach Bell earn major awards; nine named to All-Conference
BOSTON - Bryant softball freshman Makenna Coleman was named the America East Rookie of the Year and head coach Bianka Bell earned Co-Coach of the Year honors, the league office announced on Tuesday afternoon. In addition, nine Bulldogs were named to the All-Conference teams.
Coleman becomes the first rookie of the year in DI program history, while Bell shares the top honor in her first season with the Black and Gold. Bryant's infield also made history, as Alexis Clancy, Aleix Hudson, Sam Rohwer and Megan Marcel were all named to the first team, joining Boston U. (2007) as the only programs in America East history to accomplish the feat. Coleman also earned first-team honors in the outfield.
Kylie Kenney, Hannah Cochran, and Alexis Larrow made the second team, while Grace McKillop, Coleman, and Rohwer were named to the All-Rookie team. Clancy and Hudson also made the All-Academic team.
Coleman finished the regular season hitting .336 and tallied seven doubles, four triples four home runs and a slugging percentage of .589. In conference, Coleman posted a batting average of .400, 24 hits, six doubles, two triples, three home runs, 16 RBI and slugged .717. She ranks
Coach Bell made an immediate impact this spring, leading the Bulldogs to a 32-win regular season, tying the DI program record for most wins in a season. The Black and Gold also set the DI program record for home victories with 15 and won six of their seven league series, including two sweeps.
Clancy enjoyed a breakout season, tallying career-highs in hits (58), doubles (12), HRs (7), RBI (33), batting average (.372), and slugging percentage (.586). Clancy was top-10 in the conference in all major statistical categories, finishing first in hits, third in average, fourth in doubles, and fifth in RBI.
Hudson cemented herself as one of the top hitters in program history this season, posting career bests in hits (42), doubles (13), home runs (8), and slugging percentage (.570). Hudson now ranks top-10 all time in hits, RBI, HR, doubles, runs, and slugging percentage. She enters the conference tournament with 146 career hits and a career average of .304.
Rohwer was a staple at shortstop this season for the Black and Gold, becoming the first freshman everyday shortstop since Hall of Famer Aubrey Mable. She registered 33 hits, five doubles, seven home runs, and 28 RBI. Rohwer has eight multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games.
Marcel shifted to third base this spring and produced a great offensive season for the Black and Gold, recording career highs in hits (40), HRs (6), RBIs (32), batting avg (.317), OBP (.433), slugging (.508), and stolen bases (6). In league play, she tied fir the team lead in HR and RBI. Marcel now ranks top 10 all-time in HR and RBI.
Kenney appeared in 26 games, making 18 starts on the mound. She pitched 104 innings, producing a 10-6 record with three saves and five shutouts. Kenney had her second consecutive season of 10+ wins and 100+ strikeouts. She now has 350 strikeouts and 33 wins in her career. Kenney's six league wins are tied for second.
Cochran played every game in the outfield for the Black and Gold, recording career-highs in hits (50), HR (8), RBI (37), stolen bases (13), and batting average (.352). Cochran also recorded three home runs in the doubleheader against Holy Cross, including a walk-off three-run HR in the first game. Cochran ranks top-five in almost every offensive category in the conference.
In her first campaign with the Bulldogs, Bam Larrow recorded a .310 batting average, 27 hits, four doubles, 16 RBIs, and one home run. Bam produced a .400 average in conference play with a slugging percentage of .525.
McKillop is tied with Kenney for the team lead with 10 wins this year. She made 22 appearances and ten starts, tossing 77 innings. McKillop struck out 37 batters and held opponents to a batting average of .277. She had a career-high eight strikeouts in the victory against Maine.