May 17, 2006

• Click to View the 2006 NFCA All-Region Teams

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Conference USA Player of the Year Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif./Diamond Bar) was named to the 2006 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Mideast Region First Team, while senior Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga./Harrison) garnered second team honors Wednesday.

It is Folden's second All-Mideast region first team honor in as many seasons, while Williams finished her collegiate career with four consecutive All-Mideast region selections.

Folden finished as the C-USA "Triple Crown" winner, leading the conference with a .386 batting average, 18 home runs and 56 RBI.

"I am excited for both of these girls," Marshall head coach Shonda Stanton said. "This accomplishment is a reflection of their hard work and commitment throughout the season.

"They have both put in a tremendous amount of time and effort and they are both deserving of this recognition. They have made our program better."

Folden was a first team All-Conference USA and All-Tournament team selection during her record-breaking sophomore campaign. Her 18 home runs set a new single-season school record, while falling four RBI shy of tying the school record she set a year ago. Folden is the only player in school history to amass 50-plus RBI in consecutive seasons.

Williams, a first team All-Conference USA selection, is the only player in school history to garner first team All-Conference honors all four seasons. She is also the only player to earn All-Mideast Region recognition four years in a row. Prior to this season, Williams was a three-time first team All-Mideast Region selection.

She finished second on the team with a .348 average, while pounding out a team-high 65 hits and conference-leading 24 doubles. Williams' seven home runs were tied for second on the team, while her 24 RBI were the fourth-most.

Her 24 doubles, which set a new single-season school record, fell two short of tying the conference record. She did, however, set the conference-only record with 16 doubles.

Folden and Williams are two of only three players in program history to record 20 home runs and 100 RBI in a career.

The Herd concluded its inaugural season in Conference USA with a 33-23 overall record and a 15-9 C-USA mark. Marshall advanced to its second consecutive conference tournament championship game. However, the Herd lost 3-0 to the top-seeded Tulsa Golden Hurricane last weekend.

2006 NFCA All-Mideast Region Team

First Team
P - Eileen Canney, Northwestern
P - Mariangee Bogado, Indiana
C - Rachel Folden, Marshall
1B - Garland Cooper, Northwestern
2B - Katie Laing, Notre Dame
3B - Meagan Ruthrauff, Notre Dame
SS - Tammy Williams, Northwestern
OF - Stephanie Brown, Notre Dame
OF - Lauren Hines, Indiana
OF - Katie Logan, Northwestern
UT - Emily Nichols, Iowa
DP - Katie Armour, Indiana State

Second Team
P - Brittney Robinson, Kent State
P - Heather Booth, Notre Dame
C - Mallorie Lenn, Notre Dame
1B - Brittany Herald, Evansville
2B - Ashley Ball, Kent State
3B - Rachel Karos, Eastern Illinois
SS - Stacy May, Iowa
OF - Amanda Williams, Marshall
OF - Alicia Laraway, Evansville
OF - Tara Miller, Loyola (Chicago)
UT - Jamie Fitzpatrick, Kent State
DP - Kristen Hays, Miami (Ohio)