STARKVILLE, Miss. - Headlined by First Team All-Region selection Ashley Jacobsen and Jennifer Gallagher of Texas Lutheran University, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) placed eight student-athletes on the 2015 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-Region teams. Complete NFCA Release
Taylor Grissom and Jacquelyn Brown of Texas Lutheran were named to the second team while Grace Estes of TLU, Caitlynn Dykes and Lauren Mercado of Trinity, and Marissa Irvin of Southwestern were named to third team.
Prior to the beginning of the NCAA regional playoffs, Jacobsen, a senior second baseman from Marion, Texas, had a slow start at the plate in 2015, but is hitting .462 over her last 27 games. She has raised her 2015 average to .383 after hitting below .179 on March 11. Since that time, Jacobsen has hit safely in 24 of 27 games and had a 14-game hitting streak. She was named to the First Team All-SCAC team as well as the All-Tournament Team and she was the 2014 SCAC Player of the Year.
Gallagher, a junior catcher from Missouri City, Texas, led the SCAC heading into the conference tournament in both batting average (.441) and runs batted in (45). She is also in the top 10 in the league in six other offensive categories, including on-base percentage (.504 – first), slugging percentage (.604 – third), hits (49 – third), doubles (15 – first), walks (16 – third) and total bases (67 – first). Her 45 RBI is a new school record. Gallagher was also a First Team All-SCAC selection and a All-Tournament team selection.
Grissom, a junior right-hander from Spring, Texas, leads the SCAC with a 0.61 ERA, and finished an impressive 20-2 on the year with her only two losses coming in Regional play. In 83.1 innings of work, Grissom, a three-time SCAC Player-of-the-Week during the regular season, has struck out 35 batters with only 13 walks while holding opponents to the lowest batting average against in the conference at .167. She is the first player to win back-to-back Pitcher of the Year honors since DePauw's Megan Soultz earned the honor three straight years (2008-2010).
Brown, a junior form Vidor, Texas, is a two-year starter in the Bulldogs' outfield, is the team's leading hitter as TLU enters the NCAA tournament. Brown is hitting .449 with 27 runs scored, three doubles and a triple. She has driven in 14 runs. Brown, also a two-time All-SCAC First Team selection, has stolen 33 bases in two seasons and has been caught just six times. She is a career .407 hitter for the Bulldogs, and she has made just one error in two years.
Estes, a junior from Willis, Texas, is now a two-time All-Region selection and was terrific in the leadoff position for the Bulldogs, hitting .386 with 25 RBI. She forced 22 walks which led the league and added 16 stolen bases on the year. Estes, along with Jacobsen, made up a very strong middle as the two combined for 10 double plays on the year which led the conference. Estes also had 88 assists which was second in the SCAC.
Dykes, a senior from Port Neches, Texas, made the All-SCAC Team for the fourth consecutive year, with First Team honors coming in 2012 and 2014. The senior is Trinity’s all-time home runs leader, with 14, and has three round-trippers this year. Dykes leads the team in batting average (.359), and has 23 RBI and 20 runs scored. Hoffman is a sophomore and made the All-SCAC Second Team in 2014. She was also named to the All-Tournament team in 2015.
Mercado, a senior from Houston, Texas, is a four time All-SCAC honoree, along with top-team honors in 2013. The senior was a Second Team recipient in 2012 and 2014. Mercado is batting .333 this season, with a team-best four home runs and six doubles. She is second in career home runs with 13. Additionally, Mercado has scored 16 runs and driven in 19 during the campaign. She was also an All-Tournament selection.
Irvin, a sophomore from Houston, Texas, earned a First Team All-SCAC honors for the 2015 season. She is second in the conference with a .427 batting average and third in on base percentage at .472. Irvin has logged 35 hits in 82 at bats and drove in 13 runs on the year.
