Six members of the Mount
Vernon Nazarene University women’s fastpitch
softball team were recently honored when the
American Mideast Conference South Division
and NAIA Region IX honors were announced
recently.
Kristin
Eyerman (left), a senior
pitcher from Delaware, Ohio, highlighted the
list for the Lady Cougars as she was named
to the AMC South Division Fist Team and the
NAIA Region IX Team for the second straight
year while also being selected as the AMC
South Division Pitcher of the Year. The
former Buckeye Valley High School star
finished the year with a 14-8 record on the
mound with a 2.67 ERA. In 157.1 innings of
work, she struck out 105 batters with
opponents hitting just .260 against her.
Tasha Konkle, a sophomore shortstop from
Urbana, Ohio, joined Eyerman on both the AMC
South Division First Team and the NAIA
Region IX Team. The former West
Liberty-Salem High School standout started
all 46 games and batted .252 with three
doubles, 13 RBI, and 25 runs scored. She
also committed just seven errors at
shortstop in 186 fielding chances for a .962
fielding percentage.
Caitlin Murphy, a sophomore catcher from
Gahanna, Ohio, was named to the AMC South
Division Second Team and the NAIA Region IX
Team. The former Gahanna Lincoln High School
product batted .262 while starting all 46
games and finished with six doubles, three
triples, two home runs, 20 RBI, and 20 runs
scored. She also threw out 24 of the 46
runners who tried to steal on her.
Staci Graham, a sophomore designated
player from Marengo, Ohio, was also named to
the AMC South Division Second Team. The
former Highland High School standout batted
.313 with 46 starts while recording eight
doubles, one triple, one home run, 12 runs
scored, and 27 RBI.
Leslie Banichar, a sophomore outfielder
from Shelby, Ohio, was an AMC South Division
Honorable Mention pick. The former Shelby
High School star batted .357 in 46 games
with seven doubles, four triples, 31 runs
scored, and 31 RBI. She also stole a
team-leading 19 bases in 25 attempts.
Kristin Kurelic, a freshman second
baseman from Delaware, Ohio, was another AMC
South Division Honorable Mention selection
and earned a spot on the AMC South Division
All-Freshmen Team. The former Worthington
Christian High School product batted .370 in
46 starts with three doubles, six RBI, 22
runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 15
attempts.
MVNU finished the season with a 26-20
overall mark and was third in the AMC South
Division with a 9-11 conference mark. The
Lady Cougars advanced all the way to the
championship game of the NAIA Region IX
Tournament as the fifth seed in the
seven-team tournament.