Davenport, Williams and Nielson Named to Mideast All-Region Softball Squad

5/15/2003

Marshall University softball continues to rake in the honors, the latest coming in the form of three Mideast All-Region selections. Sierra Davenport and Amanda Williams were named to the first team and Randi Nielson received second team honors.

Davenport is no stranger to post season accolades and will add first team all-region honors to her list. The junior is a three-time All Mid-American Conference selection and was the Herd’s leadership award winner this season. The Tucson, Ariz. native was a MAC second team at-large selection in 2003. Davenport batted .374 on the year and has swiped a record 40 bases this season, placing her third in the nation in that category. The junior has concentrated her efforts in the outfield this year, although she has posted a 2.97 ERA in 30.2 innings on the mound.

Amanda Williams received first team all-region honors after displaying the best offensive performance of anyone ever to wear a Herd uniform. The Powder Springs, Ga. native came to Marshall, along with her sister, highly touted. She has not disappointed, after only a single season at MU she is the program’s all-time leader in hits (75) and runs scored (50). Her .431 season average not only leads the Mid-American Conference in 2003, but ranks her fifth in the MAC’s all-time single season record books. The MAC Freshman of the Year also led the conference with 51 runs scored. She is second in the conference, behind teammates De’Shaun Drake and Sierra Davenport in RBI’s (47) and stolen bases (22). An all-around player, Williams has also been impressive in the field, gunning down runners and committing only three errors in 58 starts.

The Herd’s sophomore hurler, Nielson was named second team all-region by helping Marshall to a record 23 wins when she took to the mound. Ranked as high as 12th in the nation in win-loss percentage, she has collected the most overall wins of any pitcher in the Mid-American Conference. A native of Tucson, Ariz., Nielson also sported the best overall earned run average of any MAC pitcher, allowing only 1.32 runs per game in 2003. Fanning 155 batters on the season, the MAC Pitcher of the Year completed the conference’s pitching triple crown as it’s overall strikeout leader. Nielson had an impressive 0.93 ERA in MAC play, tossed four one-hit contests and amassed a league leading eight shutouts on the season.

Marshall finished its season with a program record 41 wins on the year. Seven MU batters ended the year hitting over .250 as the most successful season in school history took a total team effort.