Issued: May 14, 2004

McKINNEY NAMED TO ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM

SALEM, Virginia - UW-Eau Claire softball player Mallory McKinney (Fr.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) has been named to the 2004 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-America second team, it was announced recently by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

McKinney becomes the first Blugold to earn Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American honors on any team since 2000, when Heidi Bergstrom and Lisa Schueler were named to the second and third teams respectively. Only one softball player in Eau Claire softball history, Jill Schoenike in 1999, has earned first team honors.

McKinney adds the second team accolade to an already impressive list of honors for a freshman. Earlier this year she was named to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference first team and was named the WIAC Pitcher of the Year. She also earned All-Great Lakes Region first team honors and now adds the Louisville/NFCA All-America second team accolade to the list.

McKinney proved to be a threat both at the plate and in the circle in 2004. She led the Blugold offense in both home runs (7) and RBI (30) while tying for the lead with nine doubles. She finished second on the team in batting (.362), hits (50), total bases (80), slugging (.580), and on-base percentage (.403) while finishing tied for third in the conference in homers.

The freshman Blugold also enjoyed an excellent season in the circle and received the WIAC Pitcher of the Year award for her efforts. She is the third Blugold to earn the award, joining Lisa Schueler (2000) and Jill Schoenike (1999 and 1997). She finished the season with a 14-7 record and led the Eau Claire staff in ERA (1.15), complete games (8), shutouts (3), innings pitched (128.1), opposing batting average (.215), and saves (3). She appeared in 30 games, 18 of them starts, and walked a team-low 13 batters while striking out a team-high 91. She finished near the top in the conference in many pitching categories, including posting the lowest ERA in the WIAC. She finished second in opposing batting average, third in wins, and fourth in appearances and innings pitched. She also tied for the conference lead in saves.

NFCA Release