Eastern Michigan Athletics
11 Eagles Earn NFCA Scholar-Athlete Honors
10/7/2016 12:10:00 PM | Softball
The Eagles' team GPA of 3.459 ranked nationally
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team had 11 student-athletes recognized for their academic excellence by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Thursday, Oct. 6. As a team, the Eagles boasted the 28th-best team grade point average in NCAA Division I.
EMU's team GPA of 3.459 ranked atop in the Mid-American Conference, just edging out Bowling Green State University's 3.458. Meanwhile, Grand Canyon University turned in a 3.670 GPA to lead the nation. The University of Nebraska Omaha (3.643) and Saint Louis University (3.641) rounded out the top three.
The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across seven membership divisions. NCAA Division I, with 1,240 honorees, had the most student-athletes with a 3.5 grade-point average or higher.
Earning the distinction of NFCA Scholar Athlete for the Eagles were: Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra), Myranda Barnes (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Belleville), Abi Clark (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton (Alma)), Abby Davidson (Westerville, Ohio-Olentangy Orange), Haley Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan), Mady Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan), Olivia Logan (Riverview, Mich.-Riverview), Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calif.-Grand Terrace), Alex Peters (Oscoda, Mich.-Alpena), Taylor Wagner (Marshalltown, Iowa-Marshalltown), and Elaine Whitbeck (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa).
"I am very proud of our NFCA Scholar-Athletes award recipients," Head Coach Melissa Gentile said. "I think it is a big honor, academics is a huge part of what our student-athletes do and believe in. We really believe strongly that our student-athletes need to be able to make a difference in the community and in the career paths that they have chosen, and working hard in the classroom is just one step towards that."
Becoming the second freshman to be named to the MAC All-Freshman team under the guidance of Gentile, Akles became the first Eagle to earn the honor since Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) did so in 2014. Finishing the conference slate with a .277 batting average, Akles capped the season with nine multi-hit games, highlighted by four three-hit performances and a four-hit clinic. She also added eight multi-RBI showings in her first year as an Eagle. In EMU's first weekend of MAC play, Akles set a school record with seven RBI's versus Akron, March 26. The La Habra, Calif. product was one of three Eagles to be named MAC West Division Player of the Week, earning Co-Player of the Week honors, March 28.
Barnes, a chemistry major who carries a 3.75 grade point average, set career-highs in a number of categories in her final season donning the Green and White. The Ypsilanti product finished up her senior season with a career-best .227 batting average, while also setting career-highs in slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
A speech language pathology major with a 3.83 GPA, Clark wrapped up an illustrious EMU career, playing in a career-high 50 games for the Eagles that included 49 starts. Cranking out 45 hits in 141 at bats, Clark held a .319 batting average in her senior season. Ranking second on the team in hits and batting average, Clark tied for the team-lead with 16 walks. The Clinton, Mich. product tied career-highs in doubles (9) and home runs (3), and added 16 RBI's and a career-best 14 runs scored this season. Clark owns a career batting average of .317, the seventh-best career batting average in EMU laurels.
Davidson, a senior speech language pathology major, boasts a 3.91 GPA. The Westerville, Ohio native closed out her EMU career as the first player in program history to finish the season without a strikeout this while averaging two at bats per game. Davidson was one of two in NCAA Division I to finish the season without a strikeout this season. Defensively, Davidson moved from the hot corner to center field in her final go around. The transition fueled Davidson to her best defensive season of her career, as she finished the season with a career-best 1.000 fielding percentage while patrolling the outfield. At the plate, Davidson notched 20-or-more hits for the fourth consecutive season, while totalling double digit RBI's (12) for the third straight year. The senior provided late game heroics, Feb. 19, against UMass-Lowell, delivering an RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh to give EMU a walk-off victory, 4-3.
Garnering academic honors for the first time in her career, Haley Hostetler holds a 3.56 GPA as an elementary education major. The lone shortstop on the Eagles' roster, Haley Hostetler played and started every game for the Green and White. The New Haven, Ind. product hit .229 on the season with 32 hits, including a career-high eight doubles, while driving in a career-best 14 and tying for the team-lead with two triples.
Mady Hostetler pieced together the best season of her career in her senior campaign. A literature, language, and writing major, Mady Hostetler owns a 3.65 GPA. The senior outfielder set career-highs in batting average (.203), at bats (64), hits (13), doubles (3), RBI's (7), and walks (6).
Logan claimed the starting role at first base in her first collegiate season, recording 36 hits in 129 at bats. She tied for second on the team with 21 runs scored and belted two home runs, while adding eight doubles in her rookie campaign. Boasting a .279 batting average, Logan tied for the team lead with 16 walks and was plunked a team-high five times during the course of the season. In EMU's win over Ball State, April 16, Logan went 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored, two RBI's, a double, and a walk. The Riverview, Mich. product finished the year with eight multi-hit games and four multi-RBI contests.
A criminology major with a 3.81 GPA, Olmos played in 48 games for the Eagles, starting in 47. Olmos finished the season with a career-best .266 batting average while also setting career-bests in hits (37), runs (8), doubles (8), RBI's (23), slugging percentage (.345), walks (9), and on-base percentage (.311). The Riverside, Calif. native's best performance came against Akron, March 26, where she finished 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI's in EMU's 11-5 win over the Zips.
Peters played right field in EMU's season finale versus Western Michigan, May. 7, after limited action throughout the course of the season. The Oscoda, Mich. product was voted the EMU Arable Awardwinner by her teammates at the end of season banquet.
Returning from injury, Wagner appeared in 21 games for the Green and White as a junior. She finished the year with three hits and four runs scored, while also adding a double and an RBI in limited plate appearances. One of three catchers on the Eagles' 2016 roster, Wagner threw out four base runners at catcher.
Whitbeck rounds out EMU's Academic All-MAC selections. An elementary education major hailing from Holland, Mich., Whitbeck boasts a 3.42 GPA. Despite injury limiting her role to pinch runner, Whitbeck made the most of her opportunities. The Holland, Mich. product set career-highs in runs scored, crossing the plate 21 times, and stolen bases. Successful on 12-of-13 attempts, Whitbeck led the team in stolen bases while doubling her total from a season ago. Whitbeck closed out her career with a start in EMU's season finale versus Western Michigan. Starting in right field, Whitbeck used her wheels to reach base with an infield single in her final collegiate at bat.
EMU's team GPA of 3.459 ranked atop in the Mid-American Conference, just edging out Bowling Green State University's 3.458. Meanwhile, Grand Canyon University turned in a 3.670 GPA to lead the nation. The University of Nebraska Omaha (3.643) and Saint Louis University (3.641) rounded out the top three.
The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across seven membership divisions. NCAA Division I, with 1,240 honorees, had the most student-athletes with a 3.5 grade-point average or higher.
Earning the distinction of NFCA Scholar Athlete for the Eagles were: Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra), Myranda Barnes (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Belleville), Abi Clark (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton (Alma)), Abby Davidson (Westerville, Ohio-Olentangy Orange), Haley Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan), Mady Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan), Olivia Logan (Riverview, Mich.-Riverview), Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calif.-Grand Terrace), Alex Peters (Oscoda, Mich.-Alpena), Taylor Wagner (Marshalltown, Iowa-Marshalltown), and Elaine Whitbeck (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa).
"I am very proud of our NFCA Scholar-Athletes award recipients," Head Coach Melissa Gentile said. "I think it is a big honor, academics is a huge part of what our student-athletes do and believe in. We really believe strongly that our student-athletes need to be able to make a difference in the community and in the career paths that they have chosen, and working hard in the classroom is just one step towards that."
Becoming the second freshman to be named to the MAC All-Freshman team under the guidance of Gentile, Akles became the first Eagle to earn the honor since Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) did so in 2014. Finishing the conference slate with a .277 batting average, Akles capped the season with nine multi-hit games, highlighted by four three-hit performances and a four-hit clinic. She also added eight multi-RBI showings in her first year as an Eagle. In EMU's first weekend of MAC play, Akles set a school record with seven RBI's versus Akron, March 26. The La Habra, Calif. product was one of three Eagles to be named MAC West Division Player of the Week, earning Co-Player of the Week honors, March 28.
Barnes, a chemistry major who carries a 3.75 grade point average, set career-highs in a number of categories in her final season donning the Green and White. The Ypsilanti product finished up her senior season with a career-best .227 batting average, while also setting career-highs in slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
A speech language pathology major with a 3.83 GPA, Clark wrapped up an illustrious EMU career, playing in a career-high 50 games for the Eagles that included 49 starts. Cranking out 45 hits in 141 at bats, Clark held a .319 batting average in her senior season. Ranking second on the team in hits and batting average, Clark tied for the team-lead with 16 walks. The Clinton, Mich. product tied career-highs in doubles (9) and home runs (3), and added 16 RBI's and a career-best 14 runs scored this season. Clark owns a career batting average of .317, the seventh-best career batting average in EMU laurels.
Davidson, a senior speech language pathology major, boasts a 3.91 GPA. The Westerville, Ohio native closed out her EMU career as the first player in program history to finish the season without a strikeout this while averaging two at bats per game. Davidson was one of two in NCAA Division I to finish the season without a strikeout this season. Defensively, Davidson moved from the hot corner to center field in her final go around. The transition fueled Davidson to her best defensive season of her career, as she finished the season with a career-best 1.000 fielding percentage while patrolling the outfield. At the plate, Davidson notched 20-or-more hits for the fourth consecutive season, while totalling double digit RBI's (12) for the third straight year. The senior provided late game heroics, Feb. 19, against UMass-Lowell, delivering an RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh to give EMU a walk-off victory, 4-3.
Garnering academic honors for the first time in her career, Haley Hostetler holds a 3.56 GPA as an elementary education major. The lone shortstop on the Eagles' roster, Haley Hostetler played and started every game for the Green and White. The New Haven, Ind. product hit .229 on the season with 32 hits, including a career-high eight doubles, while driving in a career-best 14 and tying for the team-lead with two triples.
Mady Hostetler pieced together the best season of her career in her senior campaign. A literature, language, and writing major, Mady Hostetler owns a 3.65 GPA. The senior outfielder set career-highs in batting average (.203), at bats (64), hits (13), doubles (3), RBI's (7), and walks (6).
Logan claimed the starting role at first base in her first collegiate season, recording 36 hits in 129 at bats. She tied for second on the team with 21 runs scored and belted two home runs, while adding eight doubles in her rookie campaign. Boasting a .279 batting average, Logan tied for the team lead with 16 walks and was plunked a team-high five times during the course of the season. In EMU's win over Ball State, April 16, Logan went 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored, two RBI's, a double, and a walk. The Riverview, Mich. product finished the year with eight multi-hit games and four multi-RBI contests.
A criminology major with a 3.81 GPA, Olmos played in 48 games for the Eagles, starting in 47. Olmos finished the season with a career-best .266 batting average while also setting career-bests in hits (37), runs (8), doubles (8), RBI's (23), slugging percentage (.345), walks (9), and on-base percentage (.311). The Riverside, Calif. native's best performance came against Akron, March 26, where she finished 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI's in EMU's 11-5 win over the Zips.
Peters played right field in EMU's season finale versus Western Michigan, May. 7, after limited action throughout the course of the season. The Oscoda, Mich. product was voted the EMU Arable Awardwinner by her teammates at the end of season banquet.
Returning from injury, Wagner appeared in 21 games for the Green and White as a junior. She finished the year with three hits and four runs scored, while also adding a double and an RBI in limited plate appearances. One of three catchers on the Eagles' 2016 roster, Wagner threw out four base runners at catcher.
Whitbeck rounds out EMU's Academic All-MAC selections. An elementary education major hailing from Holland, Mich., Whitbeck boasts a 3.42 GPA. Despite injury limiting her role to pinch runner, Whitbeck made the most of her opportunities. The Holland, Mich. product set career-highs in runs scored, crossing the plate 21 times, and stolen bases. Successful on 12-of-13 attempts, Whitbeck led the team in stolen bases while doubling her total from a season ago. Whitbeck closed out her career with a start in EMU's season finale versus Western Michigan. Starting in right field, Whitbeck used her wheels to reach base with an infield single in her final collegiate at bat.
Players Mentioned
3B/1B
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OF
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3B/OF
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SS/2B
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OF
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OF
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1B/3B
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2B/SS
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UTL
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C/3B
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OF
/ SoftballThank You, Team 38
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Saturday, February 24
Closing Out a Legacy: Michelle Kriegshauser
Thursday, May 18
EMU Softball Signs Alyssa Feiler
Saturday, March 25