Photo by: Jason Roberts
Nine Softball Student-Athletes Named NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes
10/11/2017 12:13:00 PM | Softball
HAMDEN, Conn. – Nine student-athletes from the Quinnipiac softball team were recently named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar Athletes for their performance in the classroom during the 2016-17 academic year.
The distinguished athletes include former player Kat Vitale and current Bobcats; Maria Ascher (Little Canada, Minnesota), Emily Czaja (Palmer, Massachusetts), Lexi Courtney (Scappoose, Oregon), Keilani Finley (Alameda, California), Casey Herzog (Wappinger Falls, New York), Erin Larsen (Kissimmee, Florida), Abbey Long (Eau Claire, Wisconsin) and Rachel Marchuk (San Ramon, California).
Recipients of this award earned a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA over both semesters last year. Quinnipiac's total of nine players earning the award is second in the MAAC to only Iona (10).
Vitale and Finley earned the recognition as a senior while Czaja, Herzog, Ascher and Courtney were honored for their academic efforts in the classroom as juniors. Larsen earned the award as a sophomore, while both Marchuk and Long were tabbed NFCA Academic Scholar Athletes for their freshmen year campaigns.
Vitale appeared in 36 games as a senior, including 15 starts in the outfield. Vitale recorded eight hits and three RBIs on the season.
As a junior, Czaja started in 49 games for Quinnipiac. Czaja had a walk-off RBI single against Siena and went 2-for-4 with an RBI against Yale last season.
As a junior, Herzog appeared in 36 games for the Bobcats, including 31 as a pitcher. She finished the season with a 10-15 record and 106 strikeouts on the year. Herzog tossed four shutouts, including a 10-inning shutout in a 1-0 win over Sacred Heart. Herzog opened the season with a four-hit shutout with nine strikeouts in a 3-0 win over Central Michigan Herzog also tossed a one-hit shutout against Hartford, one game after throwing a five-hit shutout against Wagner.
As a junior, Courtney played in all 50 games for the Bobcats, including 46 starts. Courtney hit five homers and 16 RBIs in the transfers' first year with Quinnipiac. Courtney went 2-for-4 with a home run against Boise State and she hit 3-for-6 with two RBI in a doubleheader sweep of Marist.
As a sophomore, Larsen started all 50 games, ranking third on the team with a .292 batting average. Larsen went 2-for-3 with two homers and four RBI in a game at Yale. Larsen had six RBI in one day at the Cal State Bakersfield Tournament, batting 2-for-2 with a double, triple and two RBI against Bakersfield, and 2-for-3 with two triples and four RBI against Boise State.
As a freshman, Long appeared in 25 games in the pitching circle, including 22 starts. She finished the year with an 11-11 record and a 3.39 ERA. Long picked up her first collegiate win, going six innings in a 2-1 victory over Villanova (2/18). She threw a three-hit shutout in a win over Murray State, earned a shutout with six strikeouts in a win over Rider, threw a five-hit shutout in a win over Sacred Heart and threw a three-hitter with only one run allowed in a 2-1 win over Hartford (3/30)
As a freshman, Marchuk appeared in 38 games, including 31 starts, seeing most of her time at second base. Marchuk went 1-for-1 with a walk and two runs scored in her first collegiate start against Central Michigan. She went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles against Boise State and hit 2-for-3 with a double against Rider.
Both Finley and Ascher were red-shirted last season.
The Quinnipiac softball team recently concluded their Fall schedule with a 5-1 record, including five straight wins.
The distinguished athletes include former player Kat Vitale and current Bobcats; Maria Ascher (Little Canada, Minnesota), Emily Czaja (Palmer, Massachusetts), Lexi Courtney (Scappoose, Oregon), Keilani Finley (Alameda, California), Casey Herzog (Wappinger Falls, New York), Erin Larsen (Kissimmee, Florida), Abbey Long (Eau Claire, Wisconsin) and Rachel Marchuk (San Ramon, California).
Recipients of this award earned a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA over both semesters last year. Quinnipiac's total of nine players earning the award is second in the MAAC to only Iona (10).
Vitale and Finley earned the recognition as a senior while Czaja, Herzog, Ascher and Courtney were honored for their academic efforts in the classroom as juniors. Larsen earned the award as a sophomore, while both Marchuk and Long were tabbed NFCA Academic Scholar Athletes for their freshmen year campaigns.
Vitale appeared in 36 games as a senior, including 15 starts in the outfield. Vitale recorded eight hits and three RBIs on the season.
As a junior, Czaja started in 49 games for Quinnipiac. Czaja had a walk-off RBI single against Siena and went 2-for-4 with an RBI against Yale last season.
As a junior, Herzog appeared in 36 games for the Bobcats, including 31 as a pitcher. She finished the season with a 10-15 record and 106 strikeouts on the year. Herzog tossed four shutouts, including a 10-inning shutout in a 1-0 win over Sacred Heart. Herzog opened the season with a four-hit shutout with nine strikeouts in a 3-0 win over Central Michigan Herzog also tossed a one-hit shutout against Hartford, one game after throwing a five-hit shutout against Wagner.
As a junior, Courtney played in all 50 games for the Bobcats, including 46 starts. Courtney hit five homers and 16 RBIs in the transfers' first year with Quinnipiac. Courtney went 2-for-4 with a home run against Boise State and she hit 3-for-6 with two RBI in a doubleheader sweep of Marist.
As a sophomore, Larsen started all 50 games, ranking third on the team with a .292 batting average. Larsen went 2-for-3 with two homers and four RBI in a game at Yale. Larsen had six RBI in one day at the Cal State Bakersfield Tournament, batting 2-for-2 with a double, triple and two RBI against Bakersfield, and 2-for-3 with two triples and four RBI against Boise State.
As a freshman, Long appeared in 25 games in the pitching circle, including 22 starts. She finished the year with an 11-11 record and a 3.39 ERA. Long picked up her first collegiate win, going six innings in a 2-1 victory over Villanova (2/18). She threw a three-hit shutout in a win over Murray State, earned a shutout with six strikeouts in a win over Rider, threw a five-hit shutout in a win over Sacred Heart and threw a three-hitter with only one run allowed in a 2-1 win over Hartford (3/30)
As a freshman, Marchuk appeared in 38 games, including 31 starts, seeing most of her time at second base. Marchuk went 1-for-1 with a walk and two runs scored in her first collegiate start against Central Michigan. She went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles against Boise State and hit 2-for-3 with a double against Rider.
Both Finley and Ascher were red-shirted last season.
The Quinnipiac softball team recently concluded their Fall schedule with a 5-1 record, including five straight wins.
Players Mentioned
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C/2B
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UT
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