@MizzouSoftball Earns Five SEC Postseason Awards
5/10/2016 8:58:00 AM | Softball
Crane, Fagan, Gadbois and Nash recognized by league office
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Four student-athletes from Mizzou Softball claimed five total awards on Tuesday, as the Southeastern Conference officially announced the 2016 All-SEC Teams.
Senior Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.) claimed First Team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive (right field) honors to lead the Tigers' accolades. Redshirt seniors Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) and Taylor Gadbois (Maryville, Mo.) were each tabbed Second Team All-SEC members while first-year Tiger Regan Nash (Camden Point, Mo.) earned Freshman All-SEC honors.
Tuesday's announcement marks Crane's second consecutive season with First Team All-SEC honors. The Troy, Mo., native has been a sensational all-around player in 2016, entering postseason play with a .399 average, 16 home runs, 55 RBI and 22 stolen bases. Crane's senior season power surge has brought new career highs in runs scored (57), home runs (16), RBIs (55), total bases (126), slugging percentage (.824), walks (36) and on-base percentage (.515).
Crane has also tallied back to back SEC All-Defensive Team honors for her outstanding play in right field. In her last three years as the Tigers' everyday right fielder, Crane has 155 putouts, 12 assists and only three errors (.982 fielding percentage).
Fagan's strong senior season earned her back to back Second Team All-SEC honors. The Tigers' everyday shortstop is one of the SEC's top overall threats, entering postseason play with a .424 average, 11 home runs, 49 RBI and 25 stolen bases. Fagan competed in the black and gold for three seasons (2014-16) but will leave as one of the most decorated hitters in program history.
Her .376 career average currently ranks third in Tiger history, while her 264 career hits, 186 career RBI and 199 career runs scored all rank second-best. Tuesday's recognition marks Fagan's third career honor by the conference, as she earned 2015 Second Team All-SEC and 2012 Freshman All-SEC accolades as well.
Gadbois is capping her outstanding career at Mizzou with a sensational senior campaign. Regarded as one of the nation's fastest players, Gadbois has lived up to the billing with an SEC and NCAA-leading 51 stolen bases in 2016. Her 143 career stolen bases ranks second-most in program history, while her .375 career average ranks fourth.
Earlier this season, Gadbois joined Rhea Taylor (2008-11) as the only Tigers to ever record three 40-plus stolen base campaigns. Gadbois' four stolen bases at Ole Miss (March 11) tied the single-game Mizzou Softball record and marked the most single-game stolen bases by an SEC player this season. Tuesday marks the second career conference honor for Gadbois, as she also earned 2014 First Team All-SEC accolades.
Nash, another renowned Tiger speedster, claimed her first career SEC honors on Tuesday. The Camden Point, Mo., native's 18 stolen bases currently ranks 12th-best in the conference. Nash has been a model of consistency in her first-year campaign, hitting safely in 29-of-48 (60-percent) games while recording at least one stolen base in 16 contests.
Following Tuesday's announcement, Mizzou Softball now owns 12 all-time All-SEC awards. Crane, Fagan and Gadbois joined teammate Tori Finucane as the only two-time All-SEC recipients, while Nash earned the program's fourth all-time Freshman All-SEC accolade.
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