(Story Courtesy of Texas Lutheran University Sports Information Department)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Two Texas Lutheran student-athletes were named 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division-III Player and Pitcher of the Year Top 25 Finalists, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced Tuesday.
Fifth-Year Senior Kelly Jurden and sophomore Ashlyn Strother represent No. 2 TLU on the list - joining Linfield, Salisbury, and East Texas Baptist with two representatives on the prestigious list. Eastern Connecticut State and Belhaven led the way with three finalists each.
Jurden, the NCAA Division-III All-Time Stolen Base leader and 2022 First Team All-SCAC selection, makes her third appearance as a finalist with another season for the record books. Jurden broke the NCAA career stolen bases record in early March at Ed Kruse Stadium, stealing base No. 196 vs. Austin College. The Brenham, Texas, product now has 232 career stolen bases and currently sits in second place nationally with 63 stolen bases on the season to go with 20 RBIs. She ranked first in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) in stolen bases and walks (24) - tying for 10th nationally in walks. This season, Jurden has also set the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference all-time hits (246) and walks (102) records, the TLU all-time at-bats (591), walks (102) and runs scored (220) records in addition to the TLU and SCAC single-season stolen base record - breaking her previous record of 61 stolen bases in 2019.
One of ten sophomores on the list, Strother, has taken Division-III college softball by storm. In 124.0 innings pitched, Strother has a 0.62 ERA with 176 strikeouts to 16 walks. Her earned run average ranks third in the country while her strikeout-to-walk ratio (11.00) ranks ninth. She has allowed just 11 earned runs on the season (14 runs total) and is allowing opponents to bat just .150. Strother has allowed 12 extra base hits, with only four being home runs. The Seabrook, Texas, product has one no-hitter on the season - tossing a no-hitter against Austin College on March 19. Strother has nine double-digit strikeout performances, including a career-high 15 vs. Southwestern on March 25 and 14-K's in her no-hitter against Austin College. Additionally, her 21 wins are tied for the most in a single-season in TLU softball history.
TLU's two finalists rank as a program high for the Top 25 list.
The Player of the Year award was established in 2016 to honor the season's top performer in NCAA Division III, and was expanded in 2019 to include both a Player and Pitcher of the Year honoree.
The list is compiled and the award is voted on by the elected members of the NFCA Division III All-American Committee with one head coach representing each of the 10 NCAA regions. To be eligible, a student-athlete's head coach must be a member.
The full list can be viewed here. The winner of each award will be announced on June 3rd, following the conclusion of the 2022 season.
