Three Flashes Earn NFCA All-Region Recognition
5/16/2019 12:31:00 PM | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kent State pitcher Andrea Scali was named to the All-Mideast Region Second Team and third baseman Bailey Brownfield and designated player Brenna Brownfield earned All-Region Third Team honors, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced Thursday morning (May 16). It marks the seventh straight year Kent State received an all-region honor and the second consecutive season that three players were selected.
Scali continues to collect postseason honors which includes being named the Mid-American Conference Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, an All-MAC First Team Selection, a two-time national weekly award winner and a league-best six conference pitcher of the week awards. The Parma, Ohio native is seventh in the nation in shutouts (11), 11th in strikeouts (258) and strikeouts per seven innings (9.8) and is third in the NCAA in total strikeouts among freshman.
She has thrown three no-hitters this year against Youngtown State, Robert Morris and Bowling Green and became the first MAC freshman hurler to throw a no-hitter since 2012. Her three no-no's are the most in a single season in Kent State history, surpassing Emma Johnson (2015; Michigan State & Bowling Green) and Kylie Reynolds (2009; Charleston Southern & Stetson).
Bailey Brownfield has continued to rack up recognition throughout her career and earned a second straight all-region nod. Brownfield is hitting .351 for the second straight season and leads the team with 30 RBIs. She ranks ninth in the MAC in batting average, 13th in hits (54) and 15th in RBIs (30). The Thornville, Ohio native also ranks in the top-20 nationally with 18 doubles. She collected All-MAC Second Team hardware and was named to an All-MAC Team for the third time in her career.
Brenna Brownfield was named the MAC Player of the Year and was tabbed as an All-MAC performer for the second straight season. Brenna Brownfield erupted during the middle part of the season and never looked back. During conference play the Thornville, Ohio native led the MAC in batting average (.488) and ranked third in on-base percentage (.542), OPS (1.333), RBIs per at bat (.325) and fourth in slugging percentage (.791). Overall, she was sixth in batting average (.349) and 12th in on-base percentage (.415). The sophomore tallied eight multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games. She began league play with an extra-base hit in five of her first six games. She was instrumental in Kent State earning series victories on the road at Toledo and Western Michigan, going 9-for-17 with seven RBIs and five extra-base hits.
The all-region teams were voted on by NFCA member coaches from each respective region, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to one of three 2018 NFCA Division I All-American squads, which will be announced on Wednesday, May 29.
Kent State embarks in postseason play as part of the National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) on Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at the Liberty Regional.
Be sure to follow the Flashes on Twitter and Instagram for news and in-game updates about the squad.
