Greenville, S.C. – Furman second baseman Morgan Hughey and shortstop Jessie Homesley were named to the All-Southern Conference First Team while Lauren Collier garnered SoCon All-Freshman accolades in voting by the league's nine head coaches, it was announced on Monday.
Hughey, a senior from Gaffney, S.C., leads the Paladins with a .397 batting average to go with four home runs and a team-best 31 RBI this season. A starter in 202 consecutive games and 2011 Capital One Academic All-District III pick, Hughey has notched 10 doubles and a team-high 56 hits this season.
Homesley, a junior, has hit .360 with a team-high 11 doubles, two home runs and 24 runs batted in. The Acworth, Ga., product has scored 24 runs and fielded at a .953 clip during the 2011 campaign.
Collier, who has earned playing time as a pitcher and designated player, has hit .287 with a team-best six home runs and 17 RBI in her inaugural season as a Paladin. Despite being sidelined with a wrist injury since early April, the Maineville, Ohio, native also ranks second on the squad with five wins in the circle.
No. 8 seed Furman (17-33, 9-15 SoCon) faces No. 9 seed Western Carolina in the play-in game of the SoCon Tournament at 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning at Eagle Field in Statesboro, Ga.
Fans can follow live statistical updates of every Furman contest at the SoCon Tournament by logging onto www.FurmanPaladins.com.
"One Spirit. One Team. One Furman."
2011 Southern Conference Softball All-Conference Teams
First Team
Pitcher: Alexa Datko, College of Charleston
Pitcher: Kandice Irwin, Chattanooga
Catcher: Vivian Morimoto, Chattanooga
1st Base: Alex Emeterio, UNCG
2nd Base: Morgan Hughey, Furman
Shortstop: Jessie Homesley, Furman
3rd Base: Tiffany Baker, Chattanooga
Outfield: Allie Cashion, Appalachian State
Outfield: Lyndsey Stiles, Chattanooga
Outfield: Marie Fogle, Georgia Southern
Designated Player: Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga
Utility Player: Meghan Smith, Appalachian State
Second Team
Pitcher: Hannah Dow, Appalachian State
Pitcher: Allie Miles, Georgia Southern
Catcher: Kaitlyn Piazzolla, Elon
1st Base: Kasey Tydingco, Chattanooga
2nd Base: Sara Poteat, Chattanooga
Shortstop: Kaitlin Merkt, UNCG
3rd Base: Katie Boyd, Appalachian State
Outfield: Carly Corthell, College of Charleston
Outfield: Carleigh Nester, Elon
Outfield: Tomeka Watson, Elon
Designated Player: Eileen Horsmon, UNCG
Utility Player: Megen Smith, Georgia Southern
All-Freshman Team
Carly Corthell, College of Charleston
Kelsey Hodgson, College of Charleston
Lizzy Vaughn, College of Charleston
Carleigh Nester, Elon
Lauren Collier, Furman
Allie Miles, Georgia Southern
Katelyn Bedwell, UNCG
Aisha Figueroa, UNCG
Nicole Bobrowski, Samford
Natalie Powers, Chattanooga
Player of the Year
Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga
Pitcher of the Year
Alexa Datko, College of Charleston
Freshman of the Year
Allie Miles, Georgia Southern
Coach of the Year
Frank Reed, Chattanooga
