Five Tigers Receive 2018 SEC Softball Postseason Honors
5/8/2018 11:43:00 AM | Softball
Five total awards are second-most by a Mizzou team in its SEC era
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Southeastern Conference announced its annual softball awards Tuesday (May 8), as Mizzou Softball garnered an impressive five total honors.
Cayla Kessinger (Saugus, Calif.), Rylee Pierce (Visalia, Calif.) and Kolby Romaine (Chino Hills, Calif.) were named Second Team All-SEC, Brooke Wilmes (Johnstown, Iowa) was tabbed Freshman All-SEC and Amanda Sanchez (West Covina, Calif.) received SEC All-Defensive accolades at third base.
The Tigers' five total SEC postseason awards ranks tied for second all-time in program history. The 2018 Mizzou squad joins the 2014 and 2016 programs who also produced five total honors. The 2015 Tigers reign supreme, as they accumulated six total recognitions by the SEC office.
Kessinger, Pierce, Romaine and Wilmes all garnered their first career All-SEC honors Tuesday. It marks Sanchez's second career appearance on an SEC postseason award list, as she was named to the 2015 Freshman All-SEC Team.
Wilmes extended Mizzou's impressive streak of at least one player on the Freshman All-SEC squad. The Tigers have been represented on the first-year team the past five seasons, as Wilmes joins Tori Finucane (2014), Paige Lowary (2015), Sanchez (2015), Regan Nash (2016) and Braxton Burnside (2017).
Kessinger emerged as one of Mizzou's top power threats in her sophomore campaign. She tied for the team lead in home runs (10) while ranking tied for third in doubles (10). Kessinger and Sanchez were the only Tigers this regular season with double-digit doubles and home runs.
She particularly stepped up her game in SEC only action, hitting .319 with 11 runs scored, five doubles, six home runs, nine RBI, 45 total bases and .652 slugging percentage. Within the SEC only rankings, Kessinger ranked tied for second in home runs, fifth in slugging and tied for sixth in total bases.
Pierce was once again one of Mizzou's most consistent players this regular season, ranking top five on the team in average (.335), runs scored (36), hits (54), doubles (11) and home runs (eight). She personally reset single-season career-highs in average, hits, doubles, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
The Tiger first baseman also excelled defensively, leading the SEC in putouts (456) and fielding double plays (23). Pierce's 456 putouts this regular season ranks fourth all-time in a single-season in Mizzou history, while her 1,187 career putouts ranks fourth all-time.
Romaine was a consistent force in the Tiger lineup this regular season, resetting single-season career-highs in average (.336), hits (41), home runs (six), RBI (25) and slugging percentage (.533). The eventual everyday Tiger right fielder also emerged as one of Mizzou's top threats in SEC play, leading the team in average (.367) and hits (22).
In SEC only individual rankings, Romaine ranked seventh in average and 12th in on-base percentage. Romaine hit safely in 16 of 20 games played in conference action, highlighted by five multi-hit efforts.
Wilmes was a sparkplug offensively and defensively in her first year with Mizzou. At the plate, she ranked top five on the Tigers with 38 runs scored, 42 hits, 11 doubles and 25 RBI. In the field, Wilmes ranked fourth in the SEC in assists (134).
The Tiger second baseman regularly filled up the stat sheet, including 10 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI efforts. Wilmes' nine-game hitting streak earlier this season ranked second-longest amongst Mizzou hitters, while her 15-game safely reached base streak ranked tied for third.
Sanchez once again solidified herself as one of the SEC and NCAA's premier defensive third baseman. Overall this regular season, her 107 assists ranked 11th in the conference. Sanchez was even more efficient in SEC only action, as her 52 assists ranked ninth in the conference.
The smooth Tiger defender was lock down at the hot corner in SEC play, committing only one error (.986 fielding percentage).
Visit MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou Softball. You can also find the Tigers on social media by liking us on Facebook (University of Missouri Softball Team) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@MizzouSoftball).
Cayla Kessinger (Saugus, Calif.), Rylee Pierce (Visalia, Calif.) and Kolby Romaine (Chino Hills, Calif.) were named Second Team All-SEC, Brooke Wilmes (Johnstown, Iowa) was tabbed Freshman All-SEC and Amanda Sanchez (West Covina, Calif.) received SEC All-Defensive accolades at third base.
The Tigers' five total SEC postseason awards ranks tied for second all-time in program history. The 2018 Mizzou squad joins the 2014 and 2016 programs who also produced five total honors. The 2015 Tigers reign supreme, as they accumulated six total recognitions by the SEC office.
Kessinger, Pierce, Romaine and Wilmes all garnered their first career All-SEC honors Tuesday. It marks Sanchez's second career appearance on an SEC postseason award list, as she was named to the 2015 Freshman All-SEC Team.
Wilmes extended Mizzou's impressive streak of at least one player on the Freshman All-SEC squad. The Tigers have been represented on the first-year team the past five seasons, as Wilmes joins Tori Finucane (2014), Paige Lowary (2015), Sanchez (2015), Regan Nash (2016) and Braxton Burnside (2017).
Kessinger emerged as one of Mizzou's top power threats in her sophomore campaign. She tied for the team lead in home runs (10) while ranking tied for third in doubles (10). Kessinger and Sanchez were the only Tigers this regular season with double-digit doubles and home runs.
She particularly stepped up her game in SEC only action, hitting .319 with 11 runs scored, five doubles, six home runs, nine RBI, 45 total bases and .652 slugging percentage. Within the SEC only rankings, Kessinger ranked tied for second in home runs, fifth in slugging and tied for sixth in total bases.
Pierce was once again one of Mizzou's most consistent players this regular season, ranking top five on the team in average (.335), runs scored (36), hits (54), doubles (11) and home runs (eight). She personally reset single-season career-highs in average, hits, doubles, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
The Tiger first baseman also excelled defensively, leading the SEC in putouts (456) and fielding double plays (23). Pierce's 456 putouts this regular season ranks fourth all-time in a single-season in Mizzou history, while her 1,187 career putouts ranks fourth all-time.
Romaine was a consistent force in the Tiger lineup this regular season, resetting single-season career-highs in average (.336), hits (41), home runs (six), RBI (25) and slugging percentage (.533). The eventual everyday Tiger right fielder also emerged as one of Mizzou's top threats in SEC play, leading the team in average (.367) and hits (22).
In SEC only individual rankings, Romaine ranked seventh in average and 12th in on-base percentage. Romaine hit safely in 16 of 20 games played in conference action, highlighted by five multi-hit efforts.
Wilmes was a sparkplug offensively and defensively in her first year with Mizzou. At the plate, she ranked top five on the Tigers with 38 runs scored, 42 hits, 11 doubles and 25 RBI. In the field, Wilmes ranked fourth in the SEC in assists (134).
The Tiger second baseman regularly filled up the stat sheet, including 10 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI efforts. Wilmes' nine-game hitting streak earlier this season ranked second-longest amongst Mizzou hitters, while her 15-game safely reached base streak ranked tied for third.
Sanchez once again solidified herself as one of the SEC and NCAA's premier defensive third baseman. Overall this regular season, her 107 assists ranked 11th in the conference. Sanchez was even more efficient in SEC only action, as her 52 assists ranked ninth in the conference.
The smooth Tiger defender was lock down at the hot corner in SEC play, committing only one error (.986 fielding percentage).
Visit MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou Softball. You can also find the Tigers on social media by liking us on Facebook (University of Missouri Softball Team) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@MizzouSoftball).
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