Three Named to NFCA Softball All-Region Team

ERIE, Pa. – AJ Nichols (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler), Mackenzie McIntire (Stoneboro, PA/Lakeview) and Carson Hauser (Westfield, NY/Westfield Academy) are three Penn State Behrend softball players selected to the 2018 NFCA Division III East All-Region Team, announced on Wednesday.

The Lions were one of 29 schools with three selections on the All-Region Team. Nichols and McIntire were selected to the second team and Hauser chosen to the third team.

After being named to the third team last season, Nichols landed on the second team in the pitcher position. The junior starter is coming off Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Pitcher of the Year accolades. Nichols ranks third in the nation in earned-run average with 0.82. She has allowed only 16 earned runs on 95 hits, while striking out 129 batters. Nichols posted a 19-4 record in 22 appearances in the circle this season.

McIntire, the AMCC Newcomer of the Year, had an impressive freshman campaign for Behrend. She led the team and conference with 38 RBIs and 15 doubles this season. McIntire ranked second with a .399 batting average, while smacking 59 hits and scoring 25 runs. She had a .581 slugging and .973 fielding percentage. McIntire also led the team with 21 multiple hit games.

Hauser is earning her first All-Region honors after being named to the All-AMCC second team. The junior outfielder ranks 22^nd in Division III statistics with a conference-leading 64 hits this season. She broke three single-season records, including hits, at-bats (158) and stolen bases (25). Hauser also hit a team-leading .405 for the year. 

As in the past, the squad is comprised of three 15-player teams in each of the country's eight NCAA regions. All-Region players are nominated and selected by NFCA member coaches in each of the eight Division III regions.