Three Hilltoppers named to the Softball Championship All-Tournament Team
HOUSTON, Texas - St. Edward's senior Kristen Lozano and freshmen Stacy Giles and Lexi Stephens were named to the NCAA Division II Softball Championship All-Tournament Team Saturday by the NCAA Committee. After a 2-2 record in the tournament, the Hilltoppers ended their season third in the nation.
Stephens led St. Edward's (53-17) for the week with a .400 batting average. She scored three runs on six hits and 15 at bats. The outfielder received one walk and was 2-for-2 in stolen bases. On defense, Stephens had six putouts and no errors for a 1.000 fielding percentage. For the season, Stephens leads the Hilltopper offense with a .410 batting average and tallied her school-record centennial hit Saturday. She has scored 58 runs and batted in 21. She has an on base percentage of .459 and has completed 37 of her attempted 45 stolen bases. Stephens has 77 putouts and 10 assists with only two errors for an overall .978 fielding percentage.
Second on the team is Lozano who also earned outfield honors. She had a .286 batting average for the week with four hits, including a double, and three runs batted in. She had no errors on three putouts for a 1.000 fielding percentage. On the season, Lozano holds a .368 batting average, has scored 47 runs and batted in another 62. With 75 hits, she has 12 doubles, seven triples and 10 home runs. Lozano leads the team with a .642 slugging percentage. She has committed just one error for the season and has 84 putouts for a .989 fielding percentage.
Giles had a .273 batting average for the week with two home runs and a double. Her home run on Thursday led the Hilltoppers to a win over Ferris State in the sixth inning. At first base, Giles had 38 putouts, four assists and one error for a .977fielding percentage. She has a .260 batting average for the season with 12 doubles and four home runs on 39 hits. She has scored 14 runs and batted in another 23 for St. Edward's. Giles is 2-for-3 in stolen bases and has a .985 overall fielding percentage.
This was the first South Central Regional Championship and Division II National Tournament appearance for St. Edward's softball since joining the NCAA.