McMichael Named One Of Four Finalists For Honda Award
Senior Wrapped Up Season With Conference Record .475 Batting Average
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Senior all-American outfielder Iyhia McMichael was one of four collegiate softball players named to the final ballot for the Honda Award given annually to the best collegiate female athletes in the nation, the award's organization announced Tuesday.
McMichael is joined on the final ballot by Arizona pitcher Alicia Hollowell, Washington catcher Kristen Rivera and Florida State pitcher/outfielder Jessica van der Linden. McMichael, Hollowell and van der Linden are the three finalists for ASA/USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year award which is expected to announce a winner Wednesday evening at the opening ceremonies of the NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Honda is proud to sponsor The Collegiate Women Sports Awards for the 18th consecutive year. Winners are chosen in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports, and three athletes are recognized as the Inspiration Award winner and Division II and III Athletes of the Year. All of these women are selected not only for their superior athletic skills, but also for their leadership abilities, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.
Votes will be tabulated from over 900 NCAA-member schools, and the one athlete who is chosen as the outstanding "Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year" will take home the coveted Honda-Broderick Cup. The winner will be announced at The 2003-2004 Collegiate Women Sports Awards Press Conference at Columbia University in New York City the week of June 21st.
Having posted a school and SEC record .475 batting average, McMichael currently ranks second in the NCAA in that category, but continues to lead the nation in runs per game. Posting career highs almost across the board, the senior Nacogdoches, Texas, native also tied an SEC record with 51 walks and concluded the season with MSU records in both slugging (.836) and on-base percentage (.595). She also eclipsed her own school record with 41 stolen bases.
McMichael reached base safely (hit or walk) in 64 of State's 65 outings this season, including 41 consecutive games from March 3 to the end of the season. Over the course of her senior season, McMichael tallied 24 multiple-hit games, 12 multiple-RBI games, 23 multiple-run games and 13 multiple-walk games. She scored 21 of MSU's 39 gamewinning runs in 2004, while also accounting for four gamewinning RBI.
The ballot for softball's Honda award is expected to be mailed later this week, with the winner announced following the completion of the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. next week. The national championship game is set for Monday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.