May 8, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - Junior Allison Silver has been selected to the 2003 Verizon Academic All-District IV First Team Thursday, as chosen by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Silver wasn't the only Hilltopper to be honored, as senior Kristalyn Smith, a member of the 2002 Verizon Academic All-American First Team, was named second-team All-District IV.
Silver, who leads the team with a 1.75 ERA (sixth in the SBC) and was just named second-team all-Sun Belt Conference on Wednesday, earned a spot on the first team as a designated player. Silver has done a little bit of everything for the Hilltoppers this season. She leads the WKU pitching staff in strikeouts (127), innings pitched (196.0) and saves (two), while tying for the team lead with 14 victories and two shutouts. On the offensive side, Silver ranks third on the team in slugging percentage (.443), doubles (12) and home runs (four). Silver was twice named the SBC Pitcher of the Week this season (March 18 and April 21), and earned spots on the all-tournament teams at the Frost Classic, Big Red Blast and the Hilltopper Classic.
Smith, WKU's all-time RBI leader (87), became the softball team's first Academic All-American last season and was just named Western Kentucky University's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Smith holds WKU's single-season record for winning percentage by a pitcher, and ranks second all-time in runs scored and third in hits and doubles. Heading into the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, Smith is third on the team in both RBI (31) and total bases (77), and second in slugging percentage (.448). Earlier this season she put together a 12-game hitting streak, the longest streak by a Hilltopper this season.
The 2003 Sun Belt Conference softball championships begin today, as No. 2 Florida International takes on No. 3 Middle Tennessee at 11 a.m. (CST). The Hilltoppers will follow with a game against No. 5 New Mexico State at 1:30 p.m., with the winner squaring off against No. 1 Louisiana-Lafayette at 4 p.m. The SBC Tournament runs from May 8-10, with the championship game to take place Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
- WKU -
