ERIE, Pa. – Junior shortstop Alexa Bupp (Warren, PA/Warren) was named the 2017 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Player of the Year and was one of eight members of the Penn State Behrend softball team to be selected to the All-AMCC Team, announced on Wednesday.
Bupp, senior catcher Shannon McDonnell (Fayston, VT/Harwood Union), sophomore first baseman Kristen Kargol (Saegertown, PA/Cambridge Springs), senior outfielder Allania Banta (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) and sophomore pitcher AJ Nichols (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) were chosen to the first team.
Sophomore second baseman Katie Gozzard (Pittsburgh, PA/Deer Lakes) and sophomore outfielder Carson Hauser (Westfield, NY/Westfield) were named to the second team, while senior pitcher Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) was a third-team selection.
In addition to Player of the Year, Bupp was picked on the first team at shortstop. She ranks first in the conference in doubles (10), RBIs (26) and slugging percentage (.810). Bupp also sits second in hits (30), batting average (.476) and home runs (3). Overall, she has tallied 45 hits, 32 RBIs and 17 doubles this season. Bupp also has two grand slams while recording 15 multiple-hit games and six multiple-RBI games.
Nichols, the 2017 Co-Preseason Pitcher of the Year, is earning her third nod on the all-conference team after being named to the second team as a pitcher and designated hitter last year. The sophomore finished second in conference games with a 1.29 ERA and has only allowed nine earned runs in nine appearances. She posts a 6-1 record in the AMCC while striking out 30. At the plate, she ranks first in the conference in hits (34), batting average (.486), at-bats (70), while ranking second in RBIs (21), doubles (7), triples (2) and home runs (2). Overall, Nichols is tied for 65th in NCAA Division III statistics in hits (57). She also is currently riding a 14-game hitting streak and has reached bases 26 times, a streak that is still going.
McDonnell ends her career with her third All-AMCC nod. The senior was chosen to the first team a year ago and the second team her sophomore season. The 2017 Preseason Player of the Year played in all 18 conference games, recording 16 hits and driving in another 13 while scoring 17 runs. McDonnell tallied four extra-base hits, including two home runs. Overall, she is fourth on the team with 40 hits and is fifth with 23 RBIs.
Kargol was selected to the All-AMCC first team for the first time. The sophomore ranks fourth in doubles and sixth in RBIs in conference play. She is hitting .366 and ranks fourth on the team with 24 RBI's. Kargol is also tied for third with nine doubles. All three home runs this season have been in AMCC action. So far, Kargol has had nine multiple-RBI games and 12 multiple-hit games, while dominating first base.
Banta, a three-time All-Conference choice, is earning her second nod on the first team. The senior ranks second on the team in batting average (.391), while leading the conference with five home runs. Overall, Banta has recorded 43 hits, 26 RBIs with nine doubles. She has 14 multiple-hit games and eight multiple-RBI games.
Gozzard was named to the second team after earning first-team honors last season. The sophomore ranks seventh in hits (15), doubles (7) and RBIs (15) in conference play. Gozzard is batting .307 on the season with 35 hits, 21 RBIs and 22 runs scored.
Hauser is picking up her first All-AMCC honors on the second team. The sophomore outfielder has 22 runs on 21 hits with seven RBI in conference games. Overall this season, Hauser is batting .366 and is fourth on the team with 37 hits, including two doubles and two triples.
Miller is a four-time All-Conference selection, earning third-team honors for the second time. The senior hurler went undefeated in conference play with a 7-0 mark. Miller threw five complete games and struck out 25. She recently moved in to second place on the all-time wins (46) list and career strikeouts (299). Overall, Miller is 11-3 on the season with nine complete games. She has struck out 48 batters and allowed 40 earned runs.