Mississippi State Softball Earns National Team Honor

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – Following its second-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and first tournament win since 2008, the Mississippi State Softball team was chosen as one of three teams named 2013 Easton Team of the Year, the organization announced.

(HailState.com)

In addition, Easton named rising MSU senior catcher Sam Lenahan Second-Team All-American, the first MSU Easton All-America accolade in over a decade.

“We are so proud to be named an Easton Team of the Year and to have such a wonderful relationship with them,” Head Coach Vann Stuedeman said. “We had some great victories this year and look forward to even bigger ones next season.”

Joining the University of Florida and the University of Texas, Stuedeman’s squad earned the yearly team honor after posting a 33-24 record and reaching the NCAA Mobile Regional.

A tremendous part of the Bulldogs’ success in 2013 came from Lenahan, who earned second-team All-America honors following a junior campaign where she hit .327 in 57 starts with 10 home runs, 12 doubles and 40 RBIs. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native became the first Easton All-American Bulldog since Kellie Wilkerson and Iyhia McMichael earned the honors in 2001.

“Sam worked so hard for this accolade,” Stuedeman said. “The Southeastern Conference respected her, and Easton recognized that. She is part of a great group of seniors coming back for 2014.”