Softball Takes Three Academic All-SLC Slots
6/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
June 15, 2009
FRISCO, Texas - The Southland Conference announced its 2009 Academic All-SLC Softball teams Monday, and Stephen F. Austin earned three selections. With two players on the first team and a third on the second team, the Ladyjacks tied for the second-highest number of selections in the league this season.
Senior Kari Hugie and junior Briana Bishop each earned first-team recognition, while sophomore Lauren Luetge was named to the second team. This marks the second straight season for SFA to land multiple selections on the Academic All-SLC team.
Hugie finished off her SFA career with a third consecutive academic all-conference selection, making her the only three-time honoree in the Southland this season. After wrapping up CoSIDA Academic All-District honors earlier this spring, the biology major parlayed her 3.96 GPA into a First-Team All-SLC choice.
A pitcher in her first two seasons, Hugie spent the majority of her last two campaigns as the team's designated player. She started at that position 21 times in 2009 and made six appearances in the outfield. For the season, Hugie batted .185 with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI. She also appeared in four games as a pitcher.
Bishop is one of seven players in the league making her second appearance on the academic squad. The College Station, Texas, native was a second-team selection last season. This year, she batted .314 and finished second on the team with 37 RBI. Her 12 home runs led the conference and set a new single-season record at SFA. She also became the school's career home runs leader and has amassed 25 long balls in three seasons. Bishop posted a career-best .967 fielding percentage with only five errors from her spot at third base. Bishop carries a 3.47 GPA in kinesiology.
Luetge earned her first selection to the academic all-conference squad in her first season of eligibility. She was second on the team with a 2.52 ERA and posted a 10-12 record in 25 appearances. Fifteen of her 23 starts were complete-game performances, and Luetge put up five shutouts, including two no-hitters. She no-hit Northwestern State in a run-rule-shortened six-inning performance on Feb. 28, then recorded a 2-0 no-hit win in seven innings against Kent State on March 7. Luetge is a kinesiology major with a 3.63 GPA.
The Ladyjacks posted a 29-27 record in 2009, marking the first time since 1991 for SFA to record winning records in consecutive campaigns. The Ladyjacks went 17-12 in Southland Conference play and finished fourth in the league standings.
-- SFA --
