NEW ORLEANS, La. -
Roxy Cassel and Brianna Love were named to the All-Sun Belt Conference softball
teams, in an announcement by the league office on Tuesday evening. Cassel was
named to the second team as a catcher, while Love was named to the first team
as an outfielder.
Cassel exploded in
her second season as a Warhawk, batting .346 to go along with a team-best 29
RBIs. The Deer Park, Texas, native also finished second on the team in seven
other offensive categories, including hits (46), total bases (76), slugging
percentage (.571) and on base percentage (.408).
She was a mainstay
in the starting lineup this season for ULM, 45 games behind the plate and one
start as the designated player. At the plate Cassel belted her first career grand
slam, inside-the-park and multi-home run game this season. In addition, she
gunned down 16 baserunners from behind the plate.
"Roxy has been a
consistent force for us all season behind the plate," head coach Rosemary Holloway-Hill
said. "She has put up huge numbers for us all season and her offensive game now
compliments her outstanding defensive skills."
Love's first team
All-Sun Belt honor is her second in as many seasons. Love has once again
dominated opposing pitchers at the plate, as she finished third amongst all Sun
Belt players in runs scored (39) and batting average (.389). In all, she led
the Warhawks in 10 offensive statistical categories, including hits (49), home
runs (9), slugging percentage (.698), walks (38), on base percentage (.530) and
stolen bases (13).
Her nine long balls
are tied for ninth on the all-time ULM single season home run list. Love's
season ranks as one of the best in ULM history, as she is in the top-10 in six
different categories, including first in batting average, on base percentage
and walks. She also ranks in the top-166 nationally in eight offensive
categories.
"Brianna is very
deserving of this accolade," Holloway-Hill said. "She has earned the respect of
the coaches all around the league, not only with this honor but with her Sun
Belt Preseason Player of the Year acknowledgment."
FIU finished with a
clean sweep of the overall awards, as Ashley McClain won Player of the Year,
Kasey Barrett won Pitcher of the Year and Brie Rojas won Freshman of the Year. Beth McClendon ( FIU)
and Stefni Lotief (Louisiana-Lafayette) were named Co-Coaches of the Year.
ULM begins their
quest towards a Sun Belt Conference Tournament title on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
when it battles FIU.
First
Team All-Sun Belt Conference
Kasey Barrett (FIU, Senior, Pitcher)
Donna Bourgeois (Louisiana-Lafayette, Junior,
Pitcher)
Lana Bowers (Louisiana-Lafayette, Senior,
Catcher)
Mallory Cantler (North Texas, Junior, First
Base)
Brie Rojas (FIU, Freshman, Second Base)
Jessy Alfonso (FIU, Freshman, Third Base)
Melissa Verde (Louisiana-Lafayette, Senior,
Third Base)
Blair Bodenmiller (Florida Atlantic, Senior,
Shortstop)
Ashley McClain (FIU, Sophomore, Outfield)
Vallie Gaspard (Louisiana-Lafayette, Senior,
Outfield)
Brianna Love (ULM, Junior, Outfield)
Nikki Hollett (Troy, Sophomore, Designated
Player)
Second
Team All-Sun Belt Conference
Ashley Lail (North Texas, Senior, Pitcher)
Taylor Fawbush (Florida Atlantic, Freshman,
Pitcher)
Roxane Cassel (ULM, Sophomore, Catcher)
Gabriele Bridges (Louisiana-Lafayette,
Junior, First Base)
Brittany Fowler (South Alabama, Freshman,
Second Base)
Lindsay Antone (WKU, Senior, Third Base)
Kayla Burri (FIU, Freshman, Shortstop)
Christi Orgeron (Louisiana-Lafayette,
Sophomore, Outfield)
Mariza Martinez (North Texas, Junior,
Outfield)
Jessica Myers (Florida Atlantic, Senior,
Outfield)
Mallorie Sulaski (WKU, Freshman, Designated
Player)
Player
of the Year
Ashley McClain (FIU, Sophomore, Outfield)
Pitcher
of the Year
Kasey Barrett (FIU, Senior, Pitcher)
Freshman
of the Year
Brie Rojas (FIU, Freshman, Second Base)
Co-Coaches
of the Year
Beth McClendon, FIU
Stefni Lotief, Louisiana-Lafayette
