6 Hazleton Athletes Named PSUAC All-Conference

6 Hazleton Athletes Named PSUAC All-Conference
May 22, 2015

Hazleton, PA - Penn State Hazleton's strong play in baseball and softball led to playoff berths in both sports thanks to productive efforts from a number of players. Earlier this week, six student athletes were named top players in the Penn State University Athletic Conference. Five Hazleton softball players and one baseball player were recognized for their outstanding seasons this spring.

Lady Lion Softball

#15 Andrea Quillman: First Team All-Conference & PSUAC Player of the Year

 Andrea set school records with 14 home runs and 77 RBI, both of which led the PSUAC. Quillman hit .644 and slugged 1.424 against PSUAC competition, the highest percentages of any player in the conference. During a 13 game hitting streak in early April, the third baseman went 27 for 44 giving her a .613 batting average over that span of games. During that same stretch of play, Quillman smashed 20 extra base hits including 7 home runs, collected 31 RBI and scored 24 times. In 164 plate appearances, Quillman struck just five times all season, and was held without a hit in just six games out of 47 played.

# 20 Sara Stauffer: First Team All-Conference 

 Stauffer hit at the top of the Lady Lion order for much of her innagual season, batting .429 with seven home runs and 36 RBI. Stauffer's 67 hits on the season, were second to only Quillman amongst all PSUAC competitors. On April 26 against PSU Fayette, Stauffer pounded two home runs, going five for five at the plate, and scoring four times while being just a triple shy of the cycle. Sara also led the team with 1.93 earned run average, collecting seven wins on the season along with a USCAA best two saves.

# 2 Brianna Grunza: First Team All-Conference

 Grunza led the team with 70 assists defensively and swung the bat to a .381 batting average, scoring 46 runs, while hitting 4 home runs. Grunza's 59 hits in 2015 were good enough to rank her fourth in the USCAA and ninth best in total RBI with 39 driven in. In a win over Wilkes Univesrity on April 21, the shortstop drove in a season high five RBI including a grand slam to lead her team to victory, just one of her many clutch performances in 2015.

#12 Kayla Rhome First Team All-Conference

 Hazleton's ace in the circle pitched in 24 games for the Lady Lions in 2015 totaling 118 innings. Rhome's 14 victories on the season tied for most in the PSUAC and her seven shutouts in 2015 was second best in the nation. The freshman phenom fanned a PSUAC best 106 batters,

#9 Erin Dougherty: Second Team All-Conference

 The sophomore caught in 42 of Hazleton's 47 games in 2015 earning her PSUAC Second Team All-Conference honors. The sophomore recorded 209 put-outs behind the plate ranking her second nationally. Dougherty hit .291 on the season with three home runs while driving in 40 RBI, a total good enough for sixth best in the USCAA. Erin's production was equally good in the classroom earning her honors as a USCAA Academic All-American.

Nittany Lion Baseball

#24 Joseph Nigito: Second Team All-Conference

 The freshman catcher proved himself to be the Nittany Lions most potent hitter in 2015. Joe led the team with 24 hits, and 15 RBI. His .462 batting average was good for second best in the PSUAC. The catcher struck out just one time in 61 plate appearances, and went 13 for 24 over a seven game stretch in late April, collecting seven RBI in the process.