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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Softball Matches Program Mark with Five NFCA Selections
5/18/2017 9:39 AM | Softball
Flippen, Castro, Barrera, Donovan and Bowen all selected
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah softball team matched a program record on Thursday morning, placing five players on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Pacific Region Teams
Senior Hannah Flippen was named a first team selection while senior Bridget Castro and freshman Alyssa Barrera were placed on the second team and juniors Katie Donovan and Heather Bowen earned third team honors.
Utah has had multiple selections each of the last four years, 15 players in total.
Flippen became the first player in Utah history to earn all-region honors for four-consecutive seasons. She now has a chance to be the first Ute named a three-time All-American
A two-time Pac-12 Player of the Year, Flippen ranked among the top 10 in the Pac-12 in a number of offensive categories such as batting average (1st), on-base percentage (1st), slugging percentage (3rd), runs batted in (4th) triples (4th), total bases (5th), doubles (6th), runs scored (7th) and homers (9th)
Castro and Barrera were honored for a first time by the NFCA. Over the last four weeks, Castro is second on the team with a .366 batting average. The 2014 All Pac-12 selection was fourth in the conference this year with three triples and has reached base in 15 straight games entering the postseason.
Barrera, who also made the short list of finalists for the 2017 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award, ranked seventh in the Pac-12 and leads the Utes with 41 runs scored. She was named to the All Pac-12 Second Team and All-Freshman Team.
Donovan was chosen for a third-straight season, joining Flippen, Sandy Rhea (1996-98) and Charmelle Green (1988-90) as the only Utes to accomplish that feat.
The junior pitcher also earned All Pac-12 honors for a third-straight season earlier this week. She has 15 wins to give her 52 for her career and ranked ninth in the Pac-12 in strikeouts, recently surpassing 400 K's for her career. She has also notched two saves and leads the team in innings pitched this season (139.1)
Bowen, a 2015 All Pac-12 choice, is batting .310 and ranks second on the team with 38 runs batted in. After not playing third base last season, Bowen has started every game for the Utes in 2017.
The Utah softball team opens NCAA Regional Tournament play today at Dumke Family Softball Stadium. The Utes, who are making their third consecutive NCAA appearance for the first time ever, will face Fordham in the first round at 6:30 p.m. MT
Players Mentioned
OF
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3B
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1B
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INF
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