May 14, 2008

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Senior catcher Rachel Folden led two other Marshall Thundering Herd softball players when she was selected for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Mideast First Team All Region, the organization announced Wednesday.

Junior outfielder Rachael Sofie and sophomore pitcher Caitlyn Jackson joined Folden on the all-region team with second team selections.

Folden, the 2008 Conference USA Player of the Year, was named to the first team for a fourth-straight year after ending the season with a .425 batting average with a NCAA Top 5 slugging percentage of .902. She capped off her final year at Marshall claiming the all-time honors in home runs, RBIs and career batting average.

Sofie, a native of Everett, Wash., earned her first all-region honor after setting career-highs in almost every offensive statistical category. She nearly doubled her RBI total to 25 and tripled her previous doubles performance to nine.

Jackson garnered her first all-region selection after splitting time in the pitching circle and the outfield for the Herd. She finished the season with a team-high 13 wins and hurled a career-high 83 strikeouts. At the plate, Jackson hit .337 with 30 RBIs and two home runs.

The three Herd standouts will now be eligible for NFCA All-American selection, which will be decided, May 28 at 4 p.m. CST.