BOCA RATON, Fla. — Three members of the WKU softball team earned All-Sun Belt honors, the conference announced on Tuesday. Junior catcher Karavin Dew was named First-Team All-Sun Belt for the second consecutive season, while sophomore outfielder Kelsie Mattox and freshman infielder Preslie Cruce were selected to the All-Sun Belt Second Team.
Dew led the Lady Toppers in the regular season with a .329 batting average and 18 stolen bases. She also caught 14 potential base stealers. In Sun Belt games, Dew hit .371 with four doubles, three home runs, and 13 RBI. Her batting average has increased 72 points since March 17, hitting .392 during this current stretch of games. Dew was 4-for-5 at the plate in Saturday's doubleheader sweep at Middle Tennessee, scoring a career-high three runs in game two. She has reached base in each of her last 15 games. Dew had 13 multi-hit games in the regular season with four multi-RBI games.
Mattox is having one of the best offensive seasons in WKU softball history. She leads the team with 56 hits, 14 home runs, and a .621 slugging percentage. Mattox is second on the team with 36 RBI. Her 14 home runs are one shy of the Lady Toppers' single-season record. Mattox has 110 total bases this season, becoming the second WKU softball player to have over 100 in a single season. She currently ranks among the top-10 in the Sun Belt in five different statistical categories. In April, Mattox hit .455 with six doubles, four home runs, and 13 RBI. She was named Sun Belt Player of the Week on April 9 after WKU won two of three games against Troy. Mattox hit .600 in that series with two doubles, two home runs, and five RBI.
Cruce is one of four freshmen to earn All-Sun Belt honors this season. She leads WKU with a .442 on base percentage while hitting .302 and slugging .544. Cruce has started all 55 games this season at third base. In her last 20 games, Cruce has hit .345 with five home runs and 13 RBI. She is sixth in the Sun Belt in runs scored with 40, seventh in on base percentage, and tenth in total bases with 81.
WKU, the fifth seed in the 2012 Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship, will take on North Texas Wednesday at 3 p.m. at the FAU Softball Stadium.
First Team All-Sun Belt Conference
Pitcher - Ashley Brignac (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr.)
Pitcher - Jordan Wallace (Louisiana-Lafayette, Fr.)
Catcher - Karavin Dew (WKU, Jr.)
First Base - Matte Haack (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr.)
Second Base - Kayla Toney (Middle Tennessee, So.)
Shortstop - Nerissa Myers (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr.)
Third Base - Natalie Fernandez (Louisiana-Lafayette, So.)
Outfield - Ashley McClain (FIU, Sr.)
Outfield - Christi Orgeron (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr.)
Outfield - Katie Smith (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr.)
Utility - Maddelyn Fraley (North Texas, Sr.)
At-Large - Ashley Rainey, Pitcher (Troy, Fr.)
Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference
Pitcher - Mariah Dawson (FIU, So.)
Pitcher - Hannah Campbell (South Alabama, So.)
Catcher - Hannah Renn (Troy, Jr.)
First Base - Hayden Gann (Troy, Sr.)
Second Base - Sarah Shields (Troy, Sr.)
Shortstop - Brittany Fowler (South Alabama, Jr.)
Third Base - Preslie Cruce (WKU, Fr.)
Outfield - Blair Johnson (South Alabama, Fr.)
Outfield - Michelle Hewett (Troy, Sr.)
Outfield - Kelsie Mattox (WKU, So.)
Utility - Taylor Fawbush (Florida Atlantic, Jr.)
At-Large - Sarah Draheim, Catcher (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr.)
Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year
Christi Orgeron, Louisiana-Lafayette
Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year
Ashley Brignac, Louisiana-Lafayette
Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year
Jordan Wallace, Louisiana-Lafayette
Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year
Stefni and Michael Lotief, Louisiana-Lafayette
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