Ball State softball has more awards to show for an offense that terrorized Mid-American Conference pitching for most of the season.
The National Fastpitch Coaces Association nominated four Ball State players for the first and second team All-Great Lakes region.
Sophomore left fielder Jennifer Gilbert and senior shortstop Alison Mercado both received first team nods. Mercado finished second in batting average for the Cardinals with a .381 season average and contributed to a Ball State defense that led the MAC in double plays turned.
Gilbert broke records again for the Cardinals this year. She cruised past the mark she set last year and finished with 18 home runs. Her 33 home runs in her first two seasons are the most by a Ball State player in their first years. She also led Ball State in runs scored and RBIs.
Senior catcher Amanda Montalto and sophomore third baseman Audrey Bickel made the second team All-Great Lakes. Montalto led the MAC in on base percentage plus slugging percentage and finished with a team-high 39 walks.
Bickel finished the season strong and ended up hitting .345 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs for Ball State.
It was the most players Ball State had selected to the All-Great Lakes teams in program history. Ball State was the only MAC team to have any members represent on either team.
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