Five Softball Players Earn American Athletic Conference Honors
May 07, 2014 | Softball
May 7, 2014
HOUSTON - The University of Louisville placed five players on the American All-Conference Softball teams as announced at the league banquet Wednesday, May 7. Seniors Katie Keller and Taner Fowler earned first team honors while juniors Whitney Arion and Kayla Soles and freshman Maryssa Becker were named to the second team.
Keller (Livermore, Calif.) is a four-year starter at second base and a four-time all-conference selection. She leads the team with a .384 average and 19 doubles with 43 runs and 29 RBIs. Against conference opponents, she batted .369 with 14 runs and 11 RBIs. The 2013 All-American was named league player of the week twice this season. She is ranked among the UofL's top five in career hits, doubles, walks, runs and sacrifice flies.
Fowler (Morganfield, Ky.) is a four-year starter and two-time all-conference selection. This season, she has seen time at catcher, first base, left field and third base and stands second on the team with a .348 batting average, seven home runs and 30 RBIs. Against conference opponents, she batted .375 with a team-best 19 RBI, five home runs and scored 13 runs. The 2012 All-America selection is ranked among UofL's top five in career home runs and in RBIs.
Arion (Delphi, Ind.) is a three-time all-conference selection. After playing the majority of her career as the Cards' starting shortstop, she made the move to third base in the middle of this season. She carries a .281 overall batting average with six home runs, 32 runs and 31 RBIs. In conference play she hit 324 with a team-high 17 runs and drove in 16 runs. She leads the conference and is ranked 23rd in the nation with 14 sacrifice bunts on the season.
Soles (New Egypt, N.J.) earns her first all-conference nod after leading the team in conference play with a .393 batting average with five home runs and 17 RBIs. After playing the majority of her career as the Cardinals' third-baseman, Soles transitioned to right field midway through this season. She carries a .283 overall batting average and is second on the team with seven home runs.
Becker (Medford, Ore.) had an immediate impact her freshman season, splitting time between pitcher and first base. In the circle, she leads the Cardinals with a 2.02 ERA, and 133 strikeouts in 135.0 innings pitched and has notched a league-best four saves. She holds a 2.39 ERA with a 5-3 record and 59 strikeouts in 58.2 innings against conference opponents. She carries a .311 batting average with 25 RBIs and 21 runs and finished the season with a .286 average in conference play. The two-time American Pitcher of the Week is also one of 25 finalists for the 2014 NFCA Freshman of the Year.
Third-seeded Louisville (33-20) will face the No. 6 seed, Temple (15-29) Thursday at 11 a.m. (ET) in the first quarterfinal game of the American Athletic Conference Championship.
