Three Bulldogs Named NFCA South All-Region
May 14, 2015 | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Senior Julia Echols and sophomores Alexis Silkwood and Mackenzie Toler each received South All-Region honors, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced Thursday.
Echols was named to the second team at second base, while Silkwood (pitcher) and Toler (designated player) were both named to the third team. This marks the first time in each of these Bulldogs' careers to be named NFCA All-Region.
"Having three Bulldogs named to NFCA All-Region teams just shows how balanced we are this season," Mississippi State head coach Vann Stuedeman said. "I am so happy for Julia, Silkwood and Toler, because they work so hard, but they don't do it for honors like this. That makes it even sweeter for them when they are rewarded with honors like this for being a part of the process."
The three honors now gives State softball a total of 36 NFCA All-Region nods since 1997 and nine in four seasons under Stuedeman.
Echols has started 50 of MSU's 54 games this season and ranks second on the team in batting average (.342), home runs (9) and slugging percentage (.604), along with having posted a team-best on-base percentage (.468). Echols went 5-for-5 at the plate at Mizzou on April 10 as her five hits tied a program record that was accomplished only once before. On May 8, Echols was named Capital One Academic All-District by CoSIDA for her classroom successes.
Silkwood, who won two-straight SEC Pitcher of the Week honors (March 30 & April 6), ranks first in the Southeastern Conference in innings pitched (216.2), is tied for first in wins (25) and ranks second in batters struck out (199) and in appearances (44). Silkwood threw her first-career no-hitter March 25 at Southern Miss in a 10-0 win in six innings.
Toler leads the Bulldogs in walks (32) and ranks second in RBI (38), while she also recording the third-best batting average on the team (.338). Toler helped spark a seven-run MSU rally in the seventh inning at Ole Miss on March 20 as her three-run home run started the comeback win. Toler also rallied the Bulldogs on April 26 at Georgia Southern as her two-run homer lifted State to a comeback win in nine innings.
In the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-straight year, the Bulldogs will open the double-elimination round on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT against Baylor (38-14) in the Lafayette Regional.
The game will air on ESPN3, which can be seen exclusively through WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app. Pam Ward and Cheri Kempf will call the entire regional, while the voice of Bulldog Softball, Anthony Craven have the call on all of State's games on HailStatePLUS.
For more information on the MSU softball program, follow "HailStateSB" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also find all-access coverage of the Bulldogs on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
