ENC Softball Alumna Elisabeth Schaffer Nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year

MANSFIELD, Mass.- Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.), a 2020 graduate and alumna of the Eastern Nazarene College softball program, has been nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award by the institution as well as the New England Collegiate Conference.

The NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.

The Woman of the Year selection committee will choose the top 10 honorees in each NCAA division. The committee will then determine the top three candidates from each division from that pool. The nine finalists will be sent to the Committee on Women's Athletics, which will vote to determine the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year.

Schaffer was recently named the 2020 New England Collegiate Conference Female Senior Student-Athlete of the Year.

Schaffer wrapped up an illustrious four-year career with the Lions' softball program, graduating as the most decorated student-athlete in program history and having shattered every single-season and career pitching program record.

A three-time all-conference performer, she was twice named the conference's Pitcher of the Year and earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region second team honors as a junior and sophomore. As a junior, Schaffer was tabbed to the Fastpitch News All-America and Preseason All-America First Teams.

Schaffer helped lead Eastern Nazarene to the program's first-ever NECC title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2019. She played a vital role in the Lions' championship run, earning NECC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors after pitching complete games in every postseason contest.  Schaffer tossed 20.1 innings and registered 12 strikeouts in Eastern Nazarene's three NCAA Tournament games to earn a spot on the Cambridge Regional All-Tournament Team.

In four seasons with the Lions, she appeared in 117 career contests and made 74 starts in the pitcher's circle with 18 relief appearances. Schaffer boasts a career record of 58-25 with three saves. She has spun 67 career complete games and has tossed 525.2 innings in four years. In 92 pitching appearances, Schaffer has racked up 720 strikeouts while posting a career earned-run average of 1.60.

This spring, she fanned 20 batters as Eastern Nazarene defeated Concordia – marking the most strikeouts in an NCAA Division III contest this season.

Along with her pitching prowess, Schaffer also recorded a career batting average of .250 to go with a .326 on-base percentage and a .425 slugging percentage. She produced 77 base hits, including launching 12 career home runs and adding 18 doubles, and drove in 53 RBIs while scoring 36 runs.

A three-time Academic All-Conference recipient, Schaffer graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Biology and will be attending the New England School of Optometry.