Heading into the NSIC Softball tournament, the Cougar softball team was honored by the conference on Wednesday with one All-Conference First Team selection, three All-Conference Second Team nods and one Gold Glove winner. These honors are the first for USF softball since joining the NSIC and NCAA in the fall of 2012.
USF's honors were highlighted by Erin Scott who earned All-Conference First Team honors while playing leftfield for the Cougars. Scott compiled a 0.408 batting average on the season, including a 0.500 average in league play while also putting together an on-base percentage of 0.453 and a slugging percentage of 0.503. Scott also made her way into the USF record books by breaking the USF single season record for hits (60) and sits third for runs scored in a single season (33).
Kellen Dewey earned honors as a Gold Glove winner and as a member of the All-Conference Second Team. The senior second baseman hit 0.380 on the season while also leading the team in RBI with 33. While starting every game for the Cougars during the 2014 season, Dewey put together an on-base percentage of 0.437 and a slugging percentage of 0.595. She also put her name in the school record books for stolen bases in a season (14) and is in the USF all-time top five in doubles in a season (11), RBI in a season (33), doubles in a career (20), career stolen bases (16) and career RBI (60).
Dewey was joined on the All-Conference Second Team by Bailey Bouman and Amanda Walters. Walters, a senior pitcher from Sioux Falls, had the best season of her career as she has recorded an ERA of 2.28 and a WHIP of 1.14 while going 18-8 on the mound for the Cougars. Walters stifled opponents at the plate as she set the USF single season (210) and career (349) record for strikeouts. She also holds single season records in innings pitched (169), wins (18) and saves (3) in addition to the career record for saves (3).
Bouman earned her All-Conference Second Team honors as a pitcher and first baseman for the Cougars. The Pipestone, Minn. native compiled an ERA of 3.22 while also going 11-6 on the mound for USF. Bouman also excelled at the plate for the Cougars, batting 0.366 with 28 RBI and three home runs. She also put together an on-base percentage of 0.394 and a slugging percentage of 0.504.
The Cougars will look to continue their successful season as they open up the NSIC Softball Tournament as the fifth seeded team and will square off with fourth seeded Wayne State on May 1 at Sherman Park in Sioux Falls with first pitch set for 12 p.m.
