2005

(June 30) Mary Nicol of Emory University has been awarded a $7,500 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

Nicol is one of 29 female student-athletes in the nation, eight of them softball players, to receive this award for spring sports. Nicol is one of three Division III softball players honored with this scholarship.

Nicol had a 3.79 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) with a double major in environmental science and political science.

The outfielder batted .278 with 21 RBIs, third on the team. She finished in the top five in school history for career doubles, triples, home runs, RBIs, runs scored, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.

Nicol joins Melissa Roberts (2003) as one of two Emory softball players to be awarded the NCAA postgraduate scholarship.

Since the fall of 2000, Emory University student-athletes have been awarded more NCAA postgraduate scholarships (32) than any other school in the nation, just ahead of Stanford University (Calif).

(June 16) Emory University finished among the national leaders in several statistical categories, according to the final report compiled by the NCAA.

The Eagles, who had a 32-6 record, were in the top 11 among NCAA Division III schools in four team categories. In addition, several Emory players appear among the national leaders in individual statistical categories.

Emory led the nation in team fielding percentage (.978). The Eagles also were fifth in team winning percentage (.842), 10th in team earned run average (0.99), 11th in team batting average (.339), and 36th in team slugging percentage (.452).

Freshman Ali Braverman finished third in the nation as the toughest hitter to strikeout. She had one strikeout in 92 at bats this season. Junior Emily Sunshine was 40th nationally in the same category with three strikeouts in 112 at bats.

Braverman also was 33rd in the nation for highest batting average (.457). Sunshine also was 20th nationally for most sacrifice bunts (17), followed shortly by senior Allison Bouknight in 24th place with 15 bunts.

Senior Jennifer Harrigan was13th in the nation for most RBIs (46), and 37th for home runs (8). Freshman pitcher Kathy Gordon ranked 19th nationally among pitchers with a 0.76 earned run average.

Emory ranked 10th in the final national regular-season poll by the coaches' association, but was not among the 43 teams selected for the NCAA national championship tournament.

(June 3) Sarah Morse has been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America third team for softball. She previously made the Academic All-District first team.

Morse, a third baseman, set career highs in nearly every offensive category. She hit .366 with four home runs and 34 RBIs in 38 games. Morse had a 3.98 GPA as a double major in economics and history.

Morse is one of three sophomores honored among the 33 players on the first, second or third team. She also is one of 12 infielders nationally to be chosen for the Academic All-America team.

Morse is the fourth Emory player in five years to be named to the All-America team. The others were Melissa Roberts (2001, 2003) and Mary Nicol (2003).

Voting for the Academic All-America team is conducted by a national committee composed of members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). To be eligible, a nominee must be at least a sophomore with a 3.2 GPA and a starter or key reserve on their team. Emory nominees are placed in the "college division" category, which is composed of all NCAA Division II and III and NAIA schools.

(May 12) Three Emory University players have been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team. The honorees are seniors Allison Bouknight and Mary Nicol, and sophomore Sarah Morse. All three names will be placed on the national ballot for the Academic All-America team to be announced in June.

The three are among 12 players honored on the Academic All-District first team. This is the third consecutive year at least two players from Emory have made the all-district first or second team.

This is the third consecutive year that Bouknight and Nicol have been chosen to the Academic All-District team. This is the first time Morse has received this honor.

Nicol has made the district first team all three years, including 2003 when she made the Academic All-America second team. Bouknight was on the district first team in 2003 and the second team last year.

Bouknight, a catcher, was second on the team with a .371 batting average, finishing her career with a .395 average. She handled 192 fielding chances without an error for a 1.000 fielding percentage. She had a 3.68 cumulative grade point average as a business administration major.

Nicol, an outfielder, batted .278 with 21 RBIs, third on the team. She finished in the top five in school history for career doubles, triples, home runs, RBIs, runs scored, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. Nicol had a 3.79 GPA while pursuing a double major in environmental studies and political science.

Morse, a third baseman, set career highs in nearly every offensive category. She hit .366 with four home runs and 34 RBIs in 38 games. Morse had a 3.98 GPA as a double major in economics and history.

Voting for the Academic All-District team is conducted by the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America in the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To be eligible, a nominee must be at least a sophomore with a 3.2 GPA and a starter or key reserve on their team. Emory nominees are placed in the "college division" category, which is composed of all NCAA Division II and III and NAIA schools.

(May 9) Emory University was not among the 43 teams selected for the NCAA Division III national tournament. The Eagles, ranked No. 10 in the nation by the Fastpitch Coaches Association, end the season with a 32-6 record.

The team bids farewell to seniors Allison Bouknight, Lindsey Fay, Jennifer Harrigan, Christine O'Brien, Mary Nicol, and Tracey Summa.They compiled a four-year record of 150-34 (.815) with two conference championships, two NCAA regional championships, and two NCAA World Series appearances.

(April 24) In two games at Maryville College (TN), Emory University showcased its rookie and veteran pitching talent, as Kathy Gordon and Christine O'Brien both earned shutouts en route to 1-0 and 4-0 victories.

In the first game, Gordon earned her 15th win of the season, hurling her seventh shutout. The freshman yielded two hits and one walk, while fanning six batters. She is among the NCAA Division III national leaders in victories and earned run average.

The Eagles scored the lone run of the game in the first inning when Jennifer Harrigan drove in Emily Sunshine with a single. For the season, Harrigan leads Emory in RBIs (46), while Sunshine is the team leader in runs scored (32).

In the second game, O'Brien made her first start in more than a month. The senior pitched the Eagles' second shutout of the day, striking out five batters in seven innings of scoreless work. The shutout was the 20th of O'Brien's four-year career.

Ali Braverman, Allison Bouknight and Sarah Morse each had a multi-hit game. For the season, they have the top-three batting averages on the team. Braverman's .457 batting average places her among the top 50 softball players in NCAA Division III.

The Eagles finish the regular season with a 32-6 record, marking the fifth consecutive season in which they have compiled at least 30 wins.

(April 17) Emory University, ranked 17th in the nation, swept a doubleheader from Savannah College of Art and Design (GA), winning the first game 2-1 and the second 4-1. The second win was the 30th of the season for Emory. It is the fifth season in a row that the Eagles have reached the 30-win mark.

In the first game, Kathy Gordon picked up her second complete-game win of the week, hurling seven innings and striking out five batters. The freshman leads Emory with 14 wins and a 0.80 ERA on the season.

Sarah Morse led the Emory offense with two hits and an RBI. Jennifer Harrigan hit her eighth home run of the season. The senior leads her team in home runs and was 11th in the nation in RBI per game according to the last NCAA stat report. Her 42 RBI at the time of the poll were the most in the nation for NCAA Division III.

The Eagles won the second game of the doubleheader behind the pitching of Ashley Tobar and the offense of Allison Bouknight and Ali Braverman.

Tobar pitched her sixth complete game of the season, yielding one run on two hits while striking out six batters. The freshman has fanned 73 batters in 63 innings pitched this season.

Bouknight and Braverman both went 3-for-4. Bouknight added an RBI and Braverman a run scored. Braverman was 39th in the nation for NCAA Division III in batting average. Her .452 average leads the team. Bouknight was 24th in the nation in sacrifice hits.

The Eagles, ranked 3rd in their region, have won 14 of their last 16 games. They have a doubleheader against Maryville College (TN) on April 23 for the last regular-season series of the year.

(April 13) Emory University split a doubleheader with LaGrange College, winning the first game 2-1 and losing the second 4-3.

Kathy Gordon picked up her 13th win of the season with a complete game in which she did not yield an earned run. The freshman was ranked 12th in the nation in wins and 28th in ERA in the last NCAA stat report.

Emily Sunshine and Sarah Morse had two hits apiece, propelling the Eagle offense.

After falling behind early in the second game of the doubleheader, both Allison Bouknight and Ali Braverman doubled in the top of the sixth, leading to two runs in the inning. However, the comeback fell short, as the Eagles dropped their sixth game of the season, 4-3.

(April 3) On Senior Day, Emory University won both games of a doubleheader against LaGrange College (GA). The Eagles won the first game 2-1 and the second 6-3.

In the first game, pitcher Kathy Gordon did not allow an earned run in seven innings pitched, while striking out five batters.

Emily Sunshine, who went 2-for-3, scored both of Emory's runs.

In the second game, Ashley Tobar pitched seven innings without allowing an earned run.

Ali Braverman went 3-for-3, including a triple.

However, the seniors made the story of the day. Allison Bouknight, Lindsey Fay, Jennifer Harrigan, Mary Nicol, Christine O' Brien, and Tracey Summa were honored in this last home game of the regular season.

Bouknight went 2-for-2 in the second game, scored three runs and stole two bases. Harrigan had three RBI on the day. Nicol went 2-for-4 on the day. Tracey Summa and Lindsey Fay each made a sparkling defensive play in the middle of the infield. O'Brien, limited by injury, was able to enter the game as a pinch runner in the sixth inning.

The seniors were a combined 8-for-16 on the day, including four runs scored and three RBI.

After the two wins today, Emory finished one victory shy of the season record for home wins. Since 2001, Emory is 75-12 at home.

Emory University, with a 25-5 record, is scheduled to play its last 10 games of the regular season on the road.

(April 2) Emory University split a doubleheader against Huntingdon College (Ala.), winning the first game 5-0 and dropping the second 2-1.

Freshman Kathy Gordon won her fourth straight decision by pitching her second shutout in three games. Her other shutout was a perfect game three days ago. Gordon gave up only four hits and one walk in seven innings while striking out three.

Freshman Ali Braverman went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Senior Allison Bouknight and sophomore Lauren Haag each went 2-for-3 in the game, with Bouknight adding a run scored and an RBI.

In the second game, freshman pitcher Lauren Eaves took a perfect game into the top of the fifth before giving up a lead-off single. Eaves took a 1-0 lead into the top of the before being relieved, finishing her day with 6.1 innings pitched with three hits and two strikeouts. Huntingdon rallied back with two outs to take a 2-1 lead. The Eagles mustered out a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh by sophomore Sarah Morse.

Braverman extended her hitting streak to five games by going 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. She has a .714 batting average during that streak, going 10-for-14. Braverman is batting .474 for the season with 27 hits in 20 games, placing her third on the team. Morse, Haag, and senior Jennifer Harrigan each churned out two hits in three trips to the plate.

The Eagles, who received votes for national ranking, honor their seniors on Senior Day in the final home game of the regular season tomorrow at Noon against LaGrange (Ga.).

(March 31) Emory University swept a doubleheader from Maryville College (Tenn.), 4-1 and 11-0, the latter in five innings.

Freshman Kathy Gordon, who pitched a perfect game yesterday, was the winner in the opener pitching a complete game yielding seven hits and no earned runs. Her bid for back-to-back perfect games ended on a base hit with two outs in the first inning.

Jennifer Harrigan led Emory with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, including her seventh home run of the season, breaking the school season record. The home run record formerly belonged to Mary Nicol who slugged six in 2003. With 11 career homers, Harrigan is two shy of the Emory record.

In the nightcap, freshman Lauren Eaves picked up her third win in as many starts with a three-hit shutout. She has yet to allow a run in 14.1 innings this season.

Emory put six runs on the board in the home half of the first inning. Harrigan and Nicol delivered the big blows in that inning with two-run doubles.

The No. 4-5-6 hitters of Sarah Morse, Harrigan and Nicol were a combined 6-for-8 at the plate with five runs scored and six RBIs.

With a 22-4 record, Emory is off to the third-best start in school history. The 2002 and 2003 squads had 24-2 records at this point.

(March 30) Emory University extended its consecutive scoreless innings streak to 25.1 innings with two shutout wins, including a perfect game, in a doubleheader sweep of John Carroll University (Ohio),1-0 and 4-0.

In the first game, freshman pitcher Kathy Gordon pitched the fifth perfect game in Emory history, the second by a freshman, and the first of her collegiate career. Gordon allowed only two balls out of the infield while striking out seven. At one point she struck out four batters in a row, two in the second inning and two in third.

Emory's last perfect game was by Nicole Kovski on March 20 of last year against Marietta (Ohio). That was almost exactly a year after Kovski's first perfect game, March 21, 2003, against Emory & Henry (Va.).

The other two perfect games belong to Christine O'Brien, Feb. 14, 2004, against University of the South (Tenn.). The first perfect game in school history was a five-inning performance by Sarah Smith on April 9, 2000, against Judson (Ala.). Smith was the only freshman to toss a perfect game prior to Gordon today.

The Eagles' lone run in the opening game came in the first inning when freshman Ali Braverman led off the bottom of the inning with a walk. She scored on a double by senior Allison Bouknight. Braverman earlier today was announced as the conference Rookie of the Year for her performance in the annual tournament in Florida where she hit .435.

In the second game, freshman Ashley Tobar pitched a no-hitter for five innings before settling for a two-hit shutout, her fourth of the season. Tobar's no-hitter was broken up in the top of the sixth on a leadoff single by a John Carroll pinch hitter. The hit ended Emory's streak of 12 consecutive innings without giving up a hit.

The next batter hit into a 6-4-3 double play, Emory's second of the season. For the game, Tobar struck out four batters while walking one.

Braverman was perfect in the second game, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs. She was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. Her big blow came in the bottom of the sixth when she hit a bases-clearing triple to left center.

Senior Mary Nicol went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

The Eagles improved their season record to 20-4 with the sweep. Emory was listed among those receiving votes for the national top-25 poll conducted by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Of Emory's four losses, two were to a team now ranked No. 2 in the nation and a third was in extra innings.

(March 30) Six Emory University players have been named to the all-conference team for the University Athletic Association. Allison Bouknight, Ali Braverman, Jennifer Harrigan, Sarah Morse and Emily Sunshine earned first-team honors, while Mary Nicol earned second-team honors.

In addition, Braverman has been named the conference rookie of the year. She is the fourth Emory player in seven years to receive the honor.

This is the third time Bouknight and Nicol have been named to the all-conference team and the second for Sunshine. It is the first time Braverman, Harrigan and Morse have received all-conference honors. Selections were made based on the players' performance during the conference tournament in Florida.

Bouknight batted .478 in the conference tournament. This is her second time on the all-UAA first team. She received second-team honors in 2002.

Braverman batted .435, had a conference-leading 11 runs scored and had a .696 slugging percentage, second best among all conference participants.

Harrigan batted .429 with a .607 slugging percentage and had a conference-leading 12 hits and 13 RBIs in eight games.

Morse batted .400 with a .650 slugging percentage.

Sunshine batted .440 with a conference-leading 11 runs scored. The junior received second-team honors last season.

Nicol batted .391 with a .652 slugging percentage. The senior received first-team honors in 2003 and 2004.

Emory has had at least six all-UAA players in each of its seven years in the conference. The Eagles finished second in the conference with a 6-2 record.

(March 26) Emory University swept a doubleheader Saturday at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (Calif.), 3-1 and 3-0. The opener was the 200th career victory for Emory Coach Penny Siqueiros.

Kathy Gordon earned the victory in the first game after hurling her seventh complete game of the season. The freshman has a team-leading 1.34 ERA while working 62.2 of the team's 139 innings..

Betsy Bruinsma and Jennifer Harrigan added two hits apiece.

Pitcher Lauren Eaves took the win in the second game. The freshman pitched 6.1 scoreless innings. On the season, she has not allowed a run in 9.1 innings of work.

Betsy Bruinsma added another two-hit performance.

Coach Siqueiros, in her seventh year at Emory, now has a 201-72 record.

(March (25) Emory University split a doubleheader with the University of La Verne (Calif.), winning the first game 9-0 and losing the second 4-3.

Kathy Gordon earned the win in the first game, hurling her third shutout of the year.

Ali Braverman, Betsy Bruinsma and Jennifer Harrigan led the offense. Braverman went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Bruinsma went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs, including her second home run of the season. Harrigan hit her sixth home run of the season.

In the second game, the Eagles got off to a two-run lead in the second with a walk from Harrigan, a sacrifice from Lauren Haag and hits from Bruinsma and Mary Nicol. However, Emory was unable to hold on for the win.

(March 21) Emory University went 6-2 in the University Athletic Association tournament, finishing second in the conference. This is the fifth year in a row that Emory has finished in at least the top two in the UAA.
The Eagles outscored their opponents 62-14 over the course of the tournament.

Emory's pitching staff yielded only 12 earned runs in eight games for a combined 1.79 earned run average. Senior Christine O'Brien had a 3-0 record and a 0.49 earned run average in four appearances, including a two-hit shutout against Case Western Reserve (OH). Freshman Kathy Gordon had a 1.94 earned run average and a 2-2 record, including a 3-hit shutout against Rochester (NY). Freshman Ashley Tobar finished with a 3.18 earned run average and a 1-0 record, shutting out Brandeis (MA).

With a team batting average of .378, the Emory offense had four players hit better than .400 for the week. Allison Bouknight led the squad with a .478 batting average while adding seven runs and six runs batted in. Emily Sunshine hit .440 and scored 11 runs. Freshman Ali Braverman tied Sunshine with 11 runs scored, while batting .435 with a .696 slugging percentage. Sunshine and Braverman led all conference players in runs scored. Jennifer Harrigan hit .429 with a .607 slugging percentage and a conference-leading 12 hits and 13 runs batted in.

The Eagles won four of their six victories in five innings, scoring in double digits four times. Their only two losses came to Washington University, ranked ninth in the nation. In the first encounter, Gordon carried a one-hit shutout into the last inning.

(March 11) In Emory's first game of the day they defeated Brandeis University 9-0 in 5 innings. They won their third game of the tournament with a final score of Emory 14, Case Western Reserve 0 (5 inn.). The Eagles' remain undefeated in the tournament.

Saturday, the Eagles play Washington University (MO) at 10 a.m. followed by the University of Rochester (NY) at 12:30 p.m.

(March 10) Emory University played their first game in the UAA Championship against Rochester University (NY), winning 11-0. Freshman pitcher Kathy Gordon struck out eight batters in the three-hit shutout. Mary Nicol hit a 3-run homer in the first inning and Ali Braverman hit the second homer of the game in the fourth inning.

Friday, the Eagles play Brandeis University (MA) at 10 a.m. and Case Western Reserve University (OH) at 12:30 p.m.

(March 5) Emory University won both games of a doubleheader against Ferrum College (Va.), winning the first 8-0 in six innings and the second 7-3.

Freshman Kathy Gordon gained the victory in the first game, giving up only two hits in six innings of work while striking out four. Gordon is 3-1 for the season and is second on the team with a 1.05 ERA.

Emory jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning. Junior Emily Sunshine went 1-for-2 in the game with three runs scored. Sophomore Betsy Bruinsma went 2-for-2 with an RBI.

Senior Christine O'Brien started the second game of the doubleheader, but was pulled out after the first inning after giving up two runs in the first. Freshman Ashley Tobar came in and pitched six innings to earn the victory, allowing only one run while striking out nine.

Sophomore Lauren Haag went 1-for-3 with two RBIs while sophomore Sarah Morse went 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

Before Ferrum scored in the first inning, the Eagles had not allowed a single run in their past three games.
Emory, now 9-1 for the season, begin conference play on Thursday as they begin the University Athletic Association championship.

(March 4) Emory University won both games of a doubleheader against Wesleyan College (Ga.), winning the first 9-0 in five innings and the second 4-0.

Freshman Ashley Tobar pitched a complete-game shutout in the first game, giving up only three hits in five innings. Tobar also picked up nine strikeouts in five innings of work. She struck out at least one batter in every inning and recorded all of her outs on strikeouts in the fourth.

Senior Jennifer Harrigan went 3-for-3 on the day with four RBIs and two runs, including a solo home run in the bottom of the second. Senior Allison Bouknight also was perfect for the game, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

In the second game, freshman Kathy Gordon picked up the win, pitching four innings of shutout ball, allowing only two hits while striking out two. Senior Christine O'Brien relieved her in the fifth, allowing only one hit over the next three innings and striking out three.

The Eagles scored all of their runs off of a pair of two-run home runs in the second game. The first homer came in the bottom of the first from sophomore Sarah Morse, scoring freshman Ali Braverman who reached on a walk. The other blast came in the bottom of the second from Harrigan, her second of the day, bringing in junior Emily Sunshine who reached on an error. Sophomore Betsy Bruinsma and freshman Christine Godby both went 2-for-2 in the nightcap.

The Eagles, now 7-1 for the season, host Ferrum College (Va.) tomorrow at Noon.

(Feb.27) Emory University (5-1) split a two game series at Huntingdon College (AL) with a 4-3 loss in extra innings of the first game and a 6-5 victory in extra innings of the second.

Kathy Gordon pitched all nine innings of the first game for the Eagles, allowing four hits and striking out four.

Christine O'Brien picked up the win in the second game, hurling 6.2 innings. The offense was led by Cassi Witcher, Lauren Haag and Lauren Eaves, who each had two hits. Emily Sunshine had three hits , one run scored and two RBIs.

The Eagles improve to 5-1 on the season and face Piedmont College (GA) on the road Tuesday.

(Feb. 23) Emory University improved to 4-0 on the season after taking two games of a doubleheader against Agnes Scott College (GA) on Tuesday.

The Eagles won the first game 9-0 in five innings behind the pitching of Ashley Tobar. The freshman allowed only one hit and struck out 12 batters in her Emory debut.

The Emory offense exploded for five runs in the first inning behind the bats of Sarah Morse, who doubled, and Jennifer Harrigan, who homered.

Emory won 10-1 in five innings in the second game. Lauren Eaves earned the win after hurling three innings of scoreless ball. The freshman allowed one hit, while striking out four in her collegiate debut. Kate Thomas finished the game on the mound, striking out two and yielding no hits.

Harrigan notched her second home run of the day and season. The senior had five RBI in the game.

(Feb. 19) Emory University opened its season winning both games of its doubleheader against Piedmont College (Ga.). The Eagles won the first game 2-1 in extra innings and second 4-0.

Freshman pitcher Kathy Gordon picked up her first win of her collegiate career in the first game. Gordon went eight innings and gave up only one run on three hits while striking out five batters. Sophomore center fielder Betsy Bruinsma scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth on a Lauren Eaves single.

In the rubber match, senior pitcher Christine O'Brien pitched seven shutout innings, scattering eight hits and two walks while striking out two batters. The big blow offensively came from sophomore third baseman Sarah Morse, who homered to deep left field leading off the bottom of the fifth inning. Morse went 2-for-3 in the game with three RBIs.

The Eagles' next game is at home on Tuesday against Agnes Scott (Ga.).

(Oct. 11, 2004) Emory University has been recognized 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 past academic year. In addition, 11 Emory players were honored as NFCA Scholar-Athletes.

Emory had a team grade point average of 3.517 for the 2003-04 academic year, which ranked second in the nation among NCAA Division III schools and seventh among all NCAA schools.

Of the 30 schools honored in NCAA Divisions I, II and III combined, Emory is the only one to also place in the top 20 of the "U.S. News and World Report" rankings for best national universities. In addition, of the 30 honored schools, Emory was one of only two to place in the top 20 in their respective final national softball rankings last season.

Honored as Scholar-Athletes were Allison Bouknight, Katie Donovan, Lindsey Fay, Nicole Kovski, Sarah Morse, Lauren Myers, Mary Nicol, Christine O'Brien, Tracey Summa, Emily Sunshine and Kate Thomas. To be eligible, individuals must have at least a 3.5 GPA for the entire school year.

The Eagles were 19th in the final coaches poll in 2004 after finishing with a 37-12 record and their fourth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.