May 2, 2008

DANVILLE, Ky. – Led by all-America pitcher Megan Soultz, top-ranked DePauw University earned the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Championship after defeating Millsaps College, 1-0, in the SCAC championship game. It was the first conference softball title for the DU Tigers.

For her efforts, Soultz was an unanimous selection to the 2008 SCAC all-tournament squad – the only honoree to appear on all six ballots. In the championship game, Soultz allowed just two singles in recording her 13th shutout of the season.

Soultz went 3-0 during the tournament, surrendering just two earned runs in 18.1 innings of work for an ERA of 0.76. She struck out 17 and walked two and allowed just eight hits. Just a sophomore, Soultz improved to 32-1 for the year with her 32nd straight win and recorded her 51st career win to tie the DePauw record held by Darcy Vannatta (1999-02).

Six players are repeat honorees from last year’s squad, including DePauw’s Rachel Gill, who led the Tigers with a team-best .444 batting average during the tournament. Other repeat selections are Lauren Willett and Maggie Blackburn of Centre College, Sam Hill and Jennifer McKinley of Millsaps College and Kate Wright of Trinity University.

Kasey Thibodeaux of Millsaps, who made the team as both a designated player and as a pitcher, is just the second player to earn recognition for both her offensive and pitching exploits in the same tournament – joining Kim Tallent of Hendrix College who accomplished the same feat in 2005. Junior Tiffany Ladnier also landed on the team.

Below is a list of the 2008 SCAC Softball All-Tournament Team and their stats:

C – Rachel Gill, DePauw .444 (4-9) - 2 2B, 4 RBI, 1 run
1B – Stefanie Faith, Austin College .500 (5-10) - 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 5 runs
2B – Lindsey Willett, Centre .400 (6-15) - 1 HR, 2 RBI, 5 runs, 3 SBs
SS – Sam Hill, Millsaps .421 (8-19) - 2 2B, 1 RBI, 4 runs, 1 SB
3B – Jennifer McKinley, Millsaps .615 (8-13) - 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4 runs
OF – Maggie Blackburn, Centre .500 (5-10) - 1 RBI, 2 runs, 1 SB
OF – Laci Hart, Austin College .286 (4-14) - 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 runs
OF – Tiffany Ladnier, Millsaps .333 (6-18) - 1 RBI, 3 runs, 1 SB
DP – Meagan Alban, Hendrix .429 (3-7) - 1 RBI, 1 run
DP – Kasey Thibodeaux, Millsaps .267 (4-15) - 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 run
UT – Kate Wright, Trinity .400 (2-5)
P – Megan Soultz, DePauw 3-0 - 18.1 IP, 2 ER, 0.76 ERA, 17 K, 2 BB, .127 Opp BA
P – Kasey Thibodeaux, Millsaps 1-2 - 20.0 IP, 4 ER, 1.40 ERA, 8 K, 1 BB, .228 Opp BA