Five Softball Players Earn All-West Region Recognition
While there is still a sting from the team not receiving an at-large bid in this weekend's regional round of the NCAA Division III softball championships, five Pacific Lutheran players will be able to salve their disappointment knowing that they earned all-region recognition.
Top honors continued to roll in for junior Stacey Hagensen (Bellevue, Wash. / Newport HS) who earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-West Region first team honors as a utility player. Hagensen, primarily a pitcher and outfielder for the Lutes, also earned Northwest Conference Pitcher of the Year honors with a 21-6 record and a 2.30 earned run average.
Hagensen made 24 starts among her 28 total appearances, throwing 146 1/3 inning and compiling 18 complete games while limiting opponents to a .221 batting average. On offense, she hit .367 with eight doubles, eight home runs and 39 runs batted in. She drew 27 walks, had a .484 on-base percentage and led the team with 43 runs scored 16 steals (in 17 attempts).
A trio of Lutes were named to the second team, and one received third team accord.
Sophomore first baseman Kaaren Hatlen (Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville HS), frosh shortstop Lindsey Matsunaga (Kaneohe, Hawaii / Kaimuki HS), and junior outfielder Amanda Goings (Puyallup, Wash. / Puyallup HS) were second team picks. Hatlen hit .410 this year, hit eight home runs, led the team with 15 doubles, and tied Matsunaga for the team RBI lead with 44. In addition to her RBI total, the surprising Matsunaga hit .411 while leading the team with a .798 slugging percentage and in home runs with 10 (tied for second on the PLU single-season list). She also had 12 doubles and three triples this season. Goings, a junior transfer from Montana State-Billings, led the Lutes with a .412 batting average from the leadoff spot in the order. She scored 38 runs and stole 14 bases, second only to Hagensen in those categories.
Sophomore second sacker Glenelle Nitta (Mililani, Hawaii / Mililani HS) was a third team selection after hitting .330 with nine doubles and a .963 fielding percentage. She was hit by 14 pitches, setting a new, and painful, PLU single-season record.
The Lutes finished with a 31-13 overall record and placed second in the Northwest Conference regular season and postseason tournament to No. 1-ranked Linfield College. Despite those impressive numbers, the Lutes will watch as NCAA Division III postseason play starts Thursday with regional tournament action.
Too see the NFCA all-region teams, click here.
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