Softball Players Earn Academic Honors
November 08, 2007 | Softball
Nov. 8, 2007
University of Louisville softball players Catherine Bishop, Kristi Cunningham, Candi Hicks and Kristen Wadwell were named National Fastpitch Coaches Association scholar athletes. The award is given to players who achieve a 3.5 or higher GPA.
Bishop (Adelaide, Australia/), a biology major and a senior on the 2007 team, was ranked second in the nation with seven saves and was named to the ESPN/The Magazine Academic All-District IV second team. The four-year starting pitcher finished her career with the school records for wins (67), strikeouts (611), shutouts (28), and saves (10). She was also the 2006 BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year and was a two-time all-conference selection.
Cunningham (Gallatin, Tenn./Davidson), a nursing major, just completed her sophomore season as the Cardinals' starting centerfielder. She was second on the team with seven home runs, 41 RBI and 13 stolen bases. She was named to the All-BIG EAST Conference second team and was selected to the ESPN/The Magazine Academic All-Disctrict IV second team. Cunningham was also Louisville's 2007 Female Sophomore of the Year, following up on her U of L Freshman of the Year honor in 2006.
Hicks (Gainesville, Fla./Buccholz) was a senior outfielder on the 2007 team and majored in sport administration. The four-year starter was third on the team with 12 stolen bases and fourth with 28 runs. She finished her career in fifth place on the school's career runs list (101) and third on the stolen base list (48).
Wadwell (Sydney, Australia) had a successful freshman campaign, leading the Cards with a 15-9 record. The psychology major posted a 2.24 ERA and was named the BIG EAST Tournament Most Valuable Player for her performance in Louisville's run to the league title. She also earned all-conference third team honors.
The Cardinals finished the 2007 season with a 37-25 overall record and reached their fourth straight NCAA tournament, earning the BIG EAST Conference's automatic bid by winning the league tournament championship. Louisville will open the 2008 season Feb. 8-10 at Florida State's Early Bird Tournament.
