2004

(May 13) Two Emory University players have been voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team. Mary Nicol made the all-district first team while Allison Bouknight made the all-district second team.

Nicol becomes eligible for the Academic All-America team to be announced next month. Nicol was an Academic All-America second team honoree last year.

Nicol, a junior outfielder, had a 3.73 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as a double major in environmental studies and political science. She finished the season with a .351 batting average, including .625 in the post-season.

Bouknight, a junior catcher, had a 3.66 cumulative GPA as a business administration major. She finished the season with a .355 batting average. Bouknight was voted to the Academic All-District first team last year.

(May 12) Six Emory University players have been selected to the all-region team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Pitcher Nicole Kovski, catcher Allison Bouknight and outfielder Betsy Bruinsma made the second team while pitcher Christine O'Brien, first baseman Elizabeth Hampson, and third baseman Jennifer Harrigan made the third team.

This is the fourth consecutive year that six Eagles have been honored on the all-region team.

Kovski becomes the third Emory player ever to make the all-region team all four years. This is the third time Hampson and O'Brien have been chosen for the all-region team.

This is the second career all-region seelction for Bouknight and the first for Bruinsma and Harrigan.

(May 9) Emory University finished third at the NCAA Division III regional championship. The Eagles ended the season with a 37-12 record, one win shy of last season's total despite graduating an All-American and two all-region players.

Emory was seeded third in the six-team regional. The Eagles started off the tournament with a 1-0 win against University of the South (Tenn.). Christine O'Brien tossed a seven-hit shutout while Sarah Morse had the game's only RBI.

Emory dropped a 4-3 decision to the No. 20 ranked team in the nation, and the tournament's host, Roanoke College (Va.). The Eagles were done in by four fielding errors. Mary Nicol was 2-for-2 at the plate.

Emory then staved off elimination twice, first by beating Averett University (Va.) as O'Brien threw another shutout, this time a three-hitter.

Nicole Kovski then did one better by pitching a 14-inning, 1-0 shutout win against University of the South. Kovski walked one and struck out 10. She broke her own school record for innings pitched in a game, which was 13 against Ferrum (Va.) in the 2002 NCAA regionals. The winning run was scored by Nicol on a defensive miscue off the bat of Morse. Nicol was 4-for-7 at the plate in the marathon contest that lasted three hours and six minutes.

Emory was eliminated, 1-0, by No. 20 Roanoke which pushed across a run in the home half of the seventh and final inning. Nicol did her part to keep it close with two hits in three at bats.

Nicol was named to the all-tournament team along with catcher Allison Bouknight and pitcher O'Brien.

In the five games, Nicol was 10-for-16 for a team-high .625 batting average. Bouknight had a .375 on-base percentage and cleanly handled 32 fielding chances. O'Brien was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 18.1 innings.

O'Brien and Kovski combined for a 0.17 earned run average in the regionals. Kovski was 1-2 with a 0.32 ERA in 22 innings.

Emory bids farewell to seniors Kovski and first baseman Elizabeth Hampson. The two are the first in school history to compete in the NCAA tournament all four years.

The Eagles (34-10) travel to Salem, Va., to compete in a six-team regional. Emory is the No. 3 seed in what is designated as the "No. 3 Seed Regionals." The Eagles have won the regional title the last two years and gone on to finish third and fourth at the NCAA softball World Series.

Emory's first game is Friday against the No. 6 seed, University of the South (Tenn.).

Smiles Abound on Senior Day!

(April 25) In its final doubleheader of the season, Emory University swept Maryville College (TN), taking the first game 9-1 and the second 10-0.

The games were played on Senior Day in which Emory seniors Nicole Kovski and Liz Hampson were honored for their four-year tenure. Both Eagles made the most of the final regular season game of their collegiate career.

Hampson went 3-for-6 with five RBIs and scored four runs on the day. Kovski pitched a six-inning complete game in the first game, giving up only one unearned run while striking out five. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate, scoring a run while knocking in two.

Though it was Senior Day, junior Jennifer Harrigan had the biggest day of all the Eagles going 6-for-7 on the day with four runs and six RBIs. Of her six hits in the doubleheader, five of them were doubles, giving her 16 for the year.

Christine O'Brien picked up the victory in the second game, pitching a five-inning shutout. She only allowed three hits while walking two and striking out six.

Outfielders Betsy Bruinsma and Mary Nicol each had three hits on the day. Bruinsma scored three runs while Nicol had five runs and batted in two.

Emory ends the regular season with a 34-10 record, its fourth consecutive 30-win season. The Eagles are on a three-game winning streak and victories in 14 of their final 15 games. They will find out next Sunday if they have been selected to participate in the NCAA tournament.

(April 22) Emory University extended its winning streak to 11 games with a sweep of a doubleheader against LaGrange College (Ga.).

Nicole Kovski pitched six shutout innings of relief to pick up the victory in a 2-1 Eagles win in the first game. Kovski helped her own cause at the plate, going 2-for-3 on the day and bringing the winning run home with a bunt single in the top of the seventh inning. Kovski, who came into the game tied for 14th in the nation in wins, improved her season record to 16-5.

The Eagles continued their winning ways in the second game, taking it by a score of 11-2. After falling behind 2-0 after two innings, Emory scored one run in the fourth inning, and batted around in the fifth to score six and take a 7-2 lead. The Eagles added four more in the seventh to clinch the victory.

Christine O'Brien allowed one run in six innings and struck out eight LaGrange batters to pick up her 14th win of the season. Tracey Summa came off the bench to go 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run.

The Eagles have now won 16 of their last 18 games, and are 31-9 this season.

(April 15) Emory University is among the NCAA Division III national leaders in three team and three individual statistical categories.

The Eagles are ranked 17th in the nation in fielding percentage, 18th in earned run average and 24th in batting average.

Christine O' Brien is 11th in the nation in saves and 30th in earned run average. Nicole Kovski is among the wins and earned run average leaders, ranking 17th and 49th respectively.

(April 6) Emory University swept a doubleheader against LaGrange College (GA), winning the first game 2-1 and the second 1-0. The Eagles' pitching staff allowed only one unearned run in 14 innings of play as Emory improved its record to 24-9.

Christine O'Brien earned the victory in the first game, pitching a complete game and giving up only one unearned run. She scattered six hits over the game while striking out six. O'Brien now has a season ERA of 0.83.

Nicole Kovski got the victory in the rubber match, allowing only two hits over seven innings. The first hit Kovski allowed did not come until the fourth inning. She gave up a single in the fifth, but that scoring threat was ended when Allison Bouknight threw out the runner attempting to steal second. Kovski's season ERA now drops to 1.09.

Katie Donovan had a hit in each game to bring her season average to .351. She also scored a run in the first game. Bouknight had a pair of hits in the second game. Betsy Bruinsma and Sarah Morse both picked up stolen bases in the second game on a double steal.

The Eagles, ranked 25th in the nation by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, stay in Georgia as they travel south to take on Savannah A&D on Saturday.

(April 1) Emory University swept a doubleheader against Maryville College (TN) to improve to 22-9 this season.

Nicole Kovski pitched a complete game shutout in the first game to lead Emory to a 9-0 victory.

Kovski, who only allowed three hits in her seven innings pitched, lowered her ERA to 1.17 for the year. Elizabeth Hampson contributed at the plate with a 3-for 4 day and two RBI.

In the second game, a 9-6 Eagles win, Hampson continued to make an impact with her 50th career double. Hampson is now ranked 23rd all time in Division III in career doubles. Her next double with put her in a four-way tie for 20th place.

The Eagles trailed in the game until Mary Nicol hit a bases loaded triple in the top of the sixth, which put the Eagles ahead for good.

Christine O'Brien allowed an earned run in 4.2 innings to pick up her 10th win of the year and bring her ERA to 0.89 for the season.

The Eagles, who will not play again until April 6th, are ranked 25th in the nation according to the latest poll by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

(March 31) Emory University is ranked 25th in the first in-season national poll by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Emory was ranked third in the NFCA preseason poll. The Eagles have a record of 22-9 this year. Emory has the second most wins out of any team ranked in the top 25. Of the nine losses, five have been to nationally ranked teams and one was to a Division I school. The Eagles have won seven of their last nine games.

Last season, the Eagles ended with a 38-6 and finished fourth in the NCAA Division III softball World Series. The year before, Emory had a 43-10 record, while finishing third in the World Series.

(March 25) Emory University, ranked number three in the nation (20-9), lost to Division I Ohio University 5-0.

Nicole Kovski pitched 5 solid innings for the Eagles, scattering five hits and giving up one earned run. One run was all the Bobcats needed, however, as the Eagles were only able to manage two hits. Emily Sunshine doubled and Jennifer Harrigan singled for the Eagles.

The Eagles trailed 1-0 heading into the sixth inning, but Ohio scored four runs on three hits to secure the victory.

(March 24) Seven Emory University Eagles have been named to the All-University Athletic Association (UAA) teams. The seven all-conference players ties the team record set in the 2003 season.

Outfielders Betsy Bruinsma and Mary Nicol, first baseman Elizabeth Hampson, shortstop Lauren Haag and pitcher Christine O'Brien were each named to the all-conference first team while second baseman Lindsey Fay and outfielder Emily Sunshine earned a spot on the second team.

In addition Bruinsma was named UAA Rookie of the Year, joining teammates Nicole Kovski (2001) and Allison Bouknight (2002) as the only three Eagles to ever win the award. Bruinsma led all players in the tournament in hits with 11, hitting .423 for the tournament. She also finished tied for first among all UAA players in RBI (5) and was second in runs scored (7) and stolen bases (3).

O'Brien pitched in six of eight Emory games, winning three and picking up a save to earn her second career spot on the all-conference first team. The junior allowed one earned run in 33.1 innings for a 0.21 ERA, while striking out 36 batters, twice as many as the next best pitcher.

Nicol made the all-UAA first team for the second time in her career. The junior hit .360, leading all players with three doubles.

Hampson hit .346 to be named to the all-conference first team for the third time. The first baseman led the tournament in both home runs (2) and runs scored (9).

Haag became only the eighth freshman in Emory history to earn a spot on the all-conference first team. The shortstop hit .357 and was tied for the tournament lead in RBI with five.

Lindsey Fay and Emily Sunshine both made their first appearances on an all-UAA team, hitting .444 and .400, respectively.

The Eagles' coaching staff, consisting of Head Coach Penny Siqueiros and assistant coaches Jessica Seamon, Gary Anderson and Tamara Boggs, was also honored with the UAA Coaching Staff of the Year award. This is the fourth straight year that Emory has garnered this honor.

(March 21) Emory University finished second in the Bridgewater Tournament with a 4-1 record over the five games played.

Nicole Kovski pitched the second Eagle perfect game this season and the third in school history, against Marietta (OH).

The Eagles also picked up a win against Bridgewater (VA) off of a RBI single by Emily Sunshine in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Eagles, now 20-8 this season, are ranked third in the nation.

(March 17) In a meeting of national top-five teams, Emory University split a doubleheader against Illinois Wesleyan, dropping the first game 2-0 and winning the second game 3-1.

In the first game, the Eagles could not seem to figure out the Titans pitcher, as Jennifer Harrigan got the only hit in that game in the bottom of the third. It looked as though the Eagles were threatening to score in that inning, as they had runners on first and second with only one out. A crucial pickoff by the catcher on the runner at first stopped the potential rally.

The Eagles fared better in the rubber match, as Emory scored in the third inning and never trailed. Emily Sunshine went 3-for-4 along with a run. Betsy Bruinsma, who leads the team in hits with 29, upped her season average to .387 after going 2-for-4 with a run.

The Eagles looked to be in trouble in the top of the fifth when Nicole Kovski hit a batter. Christine O' Brien entered the game in relief with the bases loaded. She was able to get through the inning allowing only one run. That proved to be the only run that Illinois Wesleyan would get for the day, as O'Brien pitched 2.2 innings of shutout ball the rest of the way, gaining the save.

The Eagles, ranked third in the nation, are now 16-7 and play their next game Friday as they travel to Virginia for the Bridgewater Tournament.

(March 14) Emory University, the third ranked team in the nation, outscored all opponents 45-9 during the University Athletic Association Tournament in Altamonte Springs, FL, while finishing second with a 6-2 record. The Eagles ended a streak of three consecutive UAA championships.

Eagles batters led the tournament in average (.326), hits (72) and runs scored (45). Both of Emory's losses came in 1-0 games against the eventual champion.

Elizabeth Hampson hit two home runs in Emory's opening game of the tournament to take over the Emory career home run record. Hampson's 12 career home runs put her ahead of current assistant coach Tamara Boggs, who finished her Emory career with 10. Hampson's two home runs led all players at the tournament, as did her nine runs scored.

Christine O'Brien picked up a tournament-high 36 strikeouts, twice as many as the next highest pitcher. The junior allowed one earned run in 33.1 innings pitched and three wins to tie for the tournament lead in both categories.

Freshman Betsy Bruinsma led the tournament in hits, picking up 11 over the course of eight games.

(March 6) Emory University (9-4) split a doubleheader with Piedmont College (GA) on Saturday, with an 8-0 win and a 5-4 loss.

Christine O' Brien notched the win with four scoreless innings pitched, yielding three hits and striking out four.

Allison Bouknight led the offense with two doubles, two RBI and a run. Lauren Wald, Jennifer Harrigan and Elizabeth Hampson each added two hits.

The Eagles allowed five unearned runs in the second game.

Mary Nicol led the offense with two hits and a run scored.

The Eagles travel to Florida for the UAA Championships starting Tuesday.

(March 5) Emory University swept a doubleheader at home against Averett University (VA). The Eagles improve to 8-3 on the season with 8-0 and 12-0 wins.

Nicole Kovski pitched the first game, yielding two hits, no walks and no runs over five innings. She notched three strikeouts as well.

Betsy Bruinsma, Allison Bouknight and Emily Sunshine led the offense. Bruinsma had three hits, one run and one RBI. Bouknight added two hits, one run and two RBI. Sunshine had two hits, one run, two RBI and a stolen base.

Christine O' Brien notched the win in the second game, yielding three hits over five innings, while striking out six.

The first four Emory hitters, Lauren Wald, Betsy Bruinsma, Sarah Morse and Jennifer Harrigan each had two-hit games.

The Eagles play Piedmont at home tomorrow and then head to Florida for the UAA Championships.

(Feb. 29) Emory University, the No. 3 team in the nation, swept a double header against Ferrum College (Va.), 6-0 and 13-1, upping its season record to 6-3.

In the opener, up 3-0 in the fifth inning, Elizabeth Hampson hit a two-run home run to ice the game. The homer was Hampson's (and the team's) second of the year. Nicole Kovski allowed just two hits in earning her second victory of the year.

In the nightcap, eight of Emory's nine starters collected at least one hit. Hampson was three for three with two runs scored and an RBI. Mary Nicol keyed a six-run third inning with a bases-clearing double. She now leads the Eagles with 11 RBI. Christine O'Brien (3-1) scattered four hits in four innings of work for the victory.

(Feb. 28) Currently ranked No. 3 in the nation, Emory University (4-3) split a double header with Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) on Saturday.

The Eagles were able to capitalize on four errors by SCAD in the first game to score three unearned runs en route to a 6-4 victory. The Eagles used three pitchers during the game, with Christine O'Brien pitching four innings in relief to record the victory. O'Brien pitched a total of 10 innings in the two games combined, striking out eight opponents.

Five different players had multi hit games for the Eagles in the second game. Allison Bouknight and Mary Nicol each went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. The team tallied 12 hits, but it was not enough as the Eagles fell to SCAD in eight innings.

(Feb. 27) Emory University, ranked third in the nation, dropped both games of a doubleheader against Louisiana College, 5-1, 4-2. Louisiana was listed among others receiving votes in the Division III national pre-season poll.

In the first game, holding on to a 1-0 lead, the Eagles gave up four unearned runs on two errors in the top of the third which put Louisiana ahead for good. In the second game, Emory had another 1-0 lead going into the top of the fifth. Similar to the first game, Louisiana scored four runs, three unearned, and never looked back.

Junior Allison Bouknight went 2-for-5 in both games to go along with a walk and a stolen base. Freshman Lauren Wald went 2-for-7 in the doubleheader to bring her average to a team-leading .563. The second baseman also had an RBI and scored a run, both in the second game.

Louisiana is in its first year as a full-fledged member of NCAA Division III after winning the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association national championship last season.

(Feb. 25) Emory University continued its winning ways with an 11-1 victory over Agnes Scott College (GA) on Tuesday.

Freshman second baseman Lauren Wald had two hits in three at bats, including a two RBI triple in the seventh inning. The leadoff hitter also scored two runs and had two stolen bases. Wald has hit safely in seven of her first nine collegiate at bats.

Nicole Kovski pitched five innings of one-hit ball, allowing no runs and striking out four.

The Eagles, ranked third in the nation, improve to 3-0 on the season.

Emory President James Wagner tosses out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Eagles' season opener. His pitch was described by one observer as a knuckle curve down the middle for a strike.

(Feb. 16) Last weekend, Christine O'Brien pitched the first perfect game (and no-hitter) of her career against the University of the South in her first outing of the season. This was the second time an Emory pitcher has thrown a seven-inning perfect game, and the third perfect game overall. The perfect game by O'Brien also marked the fifth no hitter in Emory history, two of which have been seven-inning no hitters.

(Feb. 14) Emory University began the season with two wins in a doubleheader against University of the South. The Eagles took the first game 5-1 and the second 2-0. Christine O'Brien pitched a perfect game in second game, allowing only four balls out of the infield while striking out eight. The Eagles, ranked third in the nation, have a 2-0 record to start the year.

(Feb. 13) Emory University will enter the 2004 softball season ranked third in the nation according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason poll. The Eagles, who ended last season with a record of 38-6, finished fourth in last season's NCAA Division III softball World Series.

(Feb. 2) Emory University President James Wagner will throw out the first pitch at the Eagles' season opener on February 14th at 1 p.m. Emory will square off against the University of the South to open the season.

(Feb. 2) Emory University is looking for its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III softball World Series. Emory, a season after finishing with a school record .863 winning percentage (38-6), will attempt to improve upon its fourth-place finish in the 2003 World Series, and try to extend its two-year regional and three-year conference title streaks.

Returning for the Eagles is second team All-American Mary Nicol. Despite missing all of the postseason with a knee injury, Nicol was 15th in the nation for RBI and 17th in slugging percentage. The junior catcher/outfielder led Emory in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage. In just two seasons, Nicol ranks in the Emory top five all-time in six major offensive categories, including the home run record, which she is only four home runs shy of tying.

Nicol is one of four all-conference players returning for the Eagles, including catcher Allison Bouknight, and pitchers Christine O'Brien and Nicole Kovski. Bouknight, who led Emory in steals last season, is within three career steals of tying Emory's all-time record. O'Brien finished 12th in the nation in wins and 13th in earned run average with a 19-2 record and a 1.05 ERA. Kovski finished the year with a 16-4 record with a 1.55 earned run average, good for 29th in the nation for wins and 45th nationally in ERA.

Penny Siqueiros, who has coached Emory since its varsity program began in 1999, has compiled a 146-56 record, and has led the Eagles to at least 37 victories each of the last three campaigns and has not lost a conference game since 2001.

(Jan. 12) Melissa Roberts, a former four-time all-region softball player for Emory University, has been named the NCAA Division III female winner of the Woody Hayes National Scholar-Athlete Award.

The award, named after a long-time Ohio State University football coach, is presented in recognition of academic and athletic success and community service. Roberts will be honored along with male and female winners for all three NCAA divisions on Feb. 6 in Columbus, Ohio.

Roberts, a 2003 graduate, holds nine notable school career records, including most doubles and RBIs. She helped the team to third- and fourth-place finishes at the NCAA national tournament.

She graduated with a 3.88 cumulative grade point average while majoring in neuroscience and behavioral biology. Roberts received the school's highest student honor, the Brittain Award, given to one Emory graduating senior in recognition of service to the University performed without expectation of reward or recognition.

She currently is spending the school year studying abroad in Scotland as one of four Emory graduates selected as a prestigious Bobby Jones Scholar.

Roberts is the fourth Emory athlete to be honored as a Woody Hayes scholar-athlete in the program's 17-year history.

(Dec. 1) Emory University was selected as a Top-10 Academic Team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The NFCA honored teams based on their cumulative grade point averages for the 2002-03 academic year.

Emory's 3.430 team GPA ranked 10th in NCAA Division III. Emory was the only team honored among all NCAA Division I, II and III schools to also place in the top 20 of the "U.S. News and World Report" rankings for best national universities.

In addition, Emory was the only team honored among all NCAA Division I, II and III schools to also finish in the top 20 in the final national softball rankings last season. The Eagles, who were 38-6, ended fourth in the last coaches' poll.