Jennelle Munoz Tabbed NECC Softball Pitcher & Rookie of the Year, Headlines Six All-Conference First Team Selections

MANSFIELD, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team garnered six All-New England Collegiate Conference first team accolades highlighted by Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) earning NECC Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors, announced by the league office Wednesday. Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.), Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.), Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.), Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.), and Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) all joined Munoz on the All-NECC first team while Hayner also claimed a spot on the NECC Del Malloy Sportsmanship Team for the second year in a row.

Munoz becomes the second NECC Pitcher of the Year and the first NECC Rookie of the Year in program history. She also becomes the first student-athlete in league history to capture both awards in the same season.

Munoz paced the conference with a 12-1 record in the pitcher's circle and a 1.73 ERA in 13 starts. The rookie worked 81 innings and recorded 47 strikeouts while issuing just eight walks on the season. Offensively, Munoz posted a .382 batting average and collected 21 hits with 17 runs scored and 10 RBIs.

In conference competition, Munoz boasted a 9-1 record with nine complete games and 39 strikeouts to her credit. She contributed 16 hits, 13 runs scored, and eight stolen bases at the plate in NECC games.

Adams led the league with 43 base knocks, 37 runs scored, and seven home runs while ranking second with 43 RBIs. The junior shortstop compiled a .489 batting average to go with a .864 slugging percentage. Adams notched 30 hits, 26 runs scored, and 21 RBIs in league play this season.

Brandt ranked third in the conference with 10 stolen bases this spring while notching 34 hits, 27 runs scored, and 22 RBIs. The sophomore outfielder batted .425 on the year to go with a slugging percentage of .625. Brandt collected 24 hits, 20 runs scored, 16 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in NECC action.

Hayner registered 29 hits, 21 runs scored, and 14 RBIs on the season while adding six stolen bases. The senior centerfielder hit .397 with a .438 on-base percentage in the regular season. Hayner tallied 21 base knocks, 16 runs scored, and nine RBIs in conference contests.

Olaveson posted a league-best batting average of .541 and ranked second in the conference with 40 base hits. Her 31 RBIs and six home runs were good for third in the NECC this spring. The sophomore infielder scored 25 runs and swiped two bags. Olaveson sports an .878 slugging percentage, a .553 on-base percentage, and an unblemished fielding percentage of 1.000. She paced the Lions with 24 RBIs in league play to go with 30 hits and 19 runs scored.

Schwenger landed 33 base knocks, crossed the dish 28 times, drove in nine RBIs, and stole eight bases. The sophomore infielder recorded a .355 batting average with a .402 on-base percentage. Schwenger racked up 25 hits, 19 runs scored, seven RBIs, and six stolen bases in conference action.

Eastern Nazarene concluded the regular season with a 21-5 overall record and a 14-4 mark in conference play to clinch the top seed in the NECC Tournament. The Lions will face fourth-seeded Becker in the first game of the NECC Tournament May 7.