NFCA All-Region Teams
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After a standout rookie season on The Hill, WKU Softball's Jordan Thomas continues to make program history, becoming the Hilltoppers' first freshman to ever earn National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region honors. The Lebanon, Ky., native landed on the Mideast Region's third team to become WKU's ninth All-Region selection and first since the 2016 campaign.
"What a well-deserved honor for Jordan," head coach Amy Tudor started. "I am so proud of how hard she worked all season and how she was a great teammate. Jordan stepped up and handled the leadoff role with authority. She is tough, humble and I am sure with her work ethic this is only the beginning."
Across Division I, 389 student-athletes from 164 programs received 2018 NFCA All-Region accolades. The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first, second and third-team selections. NFCA member coaches from each respective region voted on the teams, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to the 2018 NFCA Division I All-American squads, which will be announced on Wednesday, May 30.
Thomas was the Hilltoppers' go-to leadoff batter in 2018. In her debut season, Thomas set the program's single season record for walks drawn with 40 and tied the single season doubles record at 16. The outfielder registered a team-best 1.019 OPS rate while leading the Red and White in several offensive categories including: runs scored (42), hits (51), doubles (16), triples (3), total bases (91), slugging percent (.565), walks (40) and on base percent (.454). Thomas finished the season with a team-best 25 extra-base hits including six home runs and was one of four Hilltoppers to start all 54 games.
In leadoff situations, Thomas reached base in 41-of-79 opportunities for a .519 rate. When leading off an inning, the freshman racked up six doubles, four home runs and 39 total bases to go along with 16 walks drawn. Thomas finished with 12 multi-hit games – the second most on the team – and a pair of four-RBI outings.
The NFCA honor comes just over a week after Thomas was named to Conference USA's 12-person All-Freshman team.
With the all-region nod, Thomas is the eighth different Hilltopper to collect an honor of the sort from the NFCA. Most recently, Brooke Holloway collected third team recognition in 2016 whole Miranda Kramer and Larissa Franklin each earned first team selections in 2015. Olivia Watkins is the lone Hilltopper to earn multiple all-region credits, with first and third team laurels in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Emily Rousseau (second team, 2013), Ryan Rogge (first team, 2009) and Shelly Floyd (first team, 2003) round out WKU Softball's all-region honorees.
How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.
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