Softball's Hill and Alonzo Earn Conference Honors
5/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 9, 2007
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Freshman designated player Megan Hill was named second team All-Conference USA, while also earning All-Freshman honors and Newcomer of the Year, and freshman outfielder Brandi Alonzo earned All-Freshman honors, as announced by the league's office today.
With the All-Conference USA selections, Southern Miss now has 20 players that have been selected all-league. Hill and Alonzo become the eighth and ninth Conference USA All-Freshman selections in school history.
Hill led the team in batting average, hits, triples, home runs, runs scored, RBIs, total bases, walks, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. Her 13 home runs and 41 RBIs are the most recorded from a freshman in school history. Throughout the season, Hill hit for the cycle twice, as well as a team-leading 12 multiple-RBI games and 10 multiple-hit games. During her first collegiate at-bat, Hill notched her first career home run.
The Hattiesburg, Miss., native received C-USA Hitter of the Week honors following her performance against UTEP and was named to LSU's Purple & Gold Classic All-Tournament Team. She ranked among the top 10 league leaders in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs scored, RBIs, triples, home runs, total bases and walks.
Alonzo led the team in stolen bases, ranked second on the team in batting average, hits, triples and hit by pitch and ranked third in doubles, home runs, runs scored, RBIs, total bases, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Her first career home run came against Texas A&M-CC, giving Southern Miss its first win of the season.
The Franklinton, La., native recorded a team-leading 15 multiple-hit games, seven multiple-RBI games and was named to LSU's Purple & Gold Classic All-Tournament Team. She ranked among the top 10 league leaders in triples and hit by pitch.
"I'm very proud of these two girls," Head Coach Gay McNutt said. "These honors serve as a small glimpse of the future of this program. The team worked hard this season, and these two players were right out front. They're both very deserving of these honors."
The freshmen also landed their names in the records books during the 2007 season. Against Louisiana Tech, both players tied the C-USA and school records for hits in a game (5), while also tying the school record for runs scored in a game (4). Hill tied the C-USA record and holds the school record for total bases in a game (12), and tied the school record for triples in season (5). In the final contest against UTEP, Alonzo tied the NCAA, C-USA and school records for doubles in a game (3).
2007 Conference USA Softball Awards and All-Conference Teams Player of the Year: Jessica Valis, Houston Pitcher of the Year: Angel Shamblin, Houston Freshman of the Year: Toni Paisley, East Carolina Newcomer of the Year: Megan Hill, Southern Miss Coach of the Year: Kyla Holas, Houston
All-Conference USA First-Team C - Rachel Folden, Marshall IF - Jessica Johnson, East Carolina IF - Jessica Valis, Houston IF - Sara Dyer, Tulsa IF - Breanne Javier, UCF OF - Katie Bush, Houston OF - Lindsay Stanley, UAB OF - Kacie Feaster, UCF UT - Leila Dolfo, Memphis P - Angel Shamblin, Houston P - Allison Kime, UCF
All-Conference USA Second-Team C - Elaina Nordstrom, Houston IF - Samantha Rodriguez, Marshall IF - Bridgette McNulty, Memphis IF - Holly Krzan, UAB IF - Simne Holland, UTEP OF - Charina Sumner, East Carolina OF - J.J. Bitner, Marshall OF - Ashley Ellis, UTEP UT - Megan Hill, Southern Miss P - Keli Harrell, East Carolina P - Toni Paisley, East Carolina
All-Conference USA Freshman Team Charina Sumner, East Carolina Kaui Tom, East Carolina Toni Paisley, East Carolina Caitlyn Jackson, Marshall Leigh Rowan, Memphis Brandi Alonzo, Southern Miss Megan Hill, Southern Miss Jackie Lawrence, Tulsa Vanessa Vice, Tulsa Hillary Barrow, UCF Stacie Townsend, UTEP