Payton Highlights Softball's MAC Award Winners

CLEVELAND, Ohio- - The Ball State softball team added another name to its illustrious list of First Team All-Mid-American Conference honorees Tuesday afternoon, as sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton became the 34th player in program history to earn the distinction as voted on by the league's 11 head coaches.

Since the 2009 season, Ball State has placed more players on the All-MAC First Team than any other league school. The Cardinals have 27 honorees during the span, with Northern Illinois in second at 21.

Payton was not the only Ball State player honored by the league's head coaches on the eve of the MAC Softball Championship, as freshman pitcher Tieghan Morio was named to both the All-MAC Second Team and the MAC All-Freshman Team. In addition, freshman outfielder Trinity Eckerty garnered all-freshman team accolades.

Payton earned First Team All-MAC honors after leading the Ball State offense with a .392 batting average in league play. She tallied 20 hits in MAC action, including four doubles, a triple and four home runs. She recorded a hit in each of the final eight MAC games, while reaching base safely in each of the last 11. Overall, Payton recorded at least one hit in 12 of Ball State's 17 league games, while reaching base safely in 15 of the 17

Payton, who was also named MAC Player of the Week of the first time in her career earlier today, recorded three hits in the league opener versus Akron (March 22), while adding five of her 13 MAC RBIs in the 14-6 (6) victory. She also recorded three hits in the second game of the doubleheader at Central Michigan (April 26), including a triple and a home run.

Morio earned Second Team All-MAC and MAC All-Freshman Team honors after leading Ball State's starters with a 1.67 ERA and a .245 opponent batting average in MAC play. Over her nine appearance, including four starts, she produced a 2-1 record and held opponents to just two multiple base hits, a pair of doubles. She also struck out 12 batters in conference play.

Eckerty earned MAC All-Freshman Team honors after finishing conference play with a .292 batting average and a .458 slugging percentage. She started six league games in the outfield for Ball State, while playing in all but one of the team's 17 league games. She also recorded a .379 on base percentage in MAC action, with seven hits and four walks.

The sixth-seeded Ball State softball team opens play in the 2019 MAC Softball Championship Wednesday evening with a 6 p.m. first pitch versus third-seeded Ohio.

A complete bracket can be found here:https://getsomemaction.com/tournaments/?id=116&path=softball

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSB.

First Team
Kaitlyn Bergman, Catcher, Toledo
Kira Mickelson, Catcher, Northern Illinois
Erika Underwood, First Base, Central Michigan
Katie Keller, First Base, Northern Illinois*
Morgan Lott, Outfield, Miami
Jenny Van Geertry, Outfield, Northern Illinois
Anna Aguon, Outfield, Buffalo
Andrea Scali, Pitcher, Kent State
Courtney Vierstra, Pitcher, Miami
Jenelle Martinez, Second Base, Buffalo
Rachel Viera, Second Base, Central Michigan*
Katie Yun, Shortstop, Ohio
Alex Day, Third Base, Ohio
Stacy Payton, Third Base, Ball State*
Brenna Brownfield, Utility-player, Kent State
Sydney Stefanick, Utility-Pitcher, Western Michigan

Second Team
Kara Leckinger, Catcher, Miami
Johniann Wahl, First Base, Miami
Kaylen Glenfield, Outfield, Western Michigan
Alex Sorgi, Outfield, Bowling Green
Lily Wilmot, Outfield, Miami
Maria Cegledy, Outfield, Kent State*
Sara Hansen, Outfield, Central Michigan*
Tieghan Morio, Pitcher, Ball State
Erin Hunt, Pitcher, Toledo
Mackenzie Bryan, Pitcher, Northern Illinois
Megan Choate, Second Base, Toledo
Sam Schmidt, Shortstop, Northern Illinois
Bailey Brownfield, Third Base, Kent State
Katie Cozy, Third Base, Toledo*
Sydney Jascoe, Utility-Player, Akron
Morgan Geno, Utility-Player, Ohio*
Ashton Slone, Utility-Player, Miami*
*At Large Selection

All-Freshman Team
Trinity Eckerty, Outfield Ball State
Tieghan Morio, Pitcher, Ball State
Alexis Matheney, Outfield ,Buffalo
Kaitlyn Bean, Pitcher, Central Michigan
Andrea Scali, Pitcher, Kent State
Megan Turner, First Base, Kent State
Brianna Pratt, Pitcher, Miami
Katie Keller, First Base, Northern Illinois
Kara Apato, Outfield, Northern Illinois
Aubrey Reed, Utility, Toledo

Coach of the Year
Clarissa Crowell, Miami

Freshman of the Year
Andrea Scali, Kent State

Nan Harvey Award
Michaela Dorsey, Ohio

Pitcher of the Year
Andrea Scali, Kent State

Player of the Year
Brenna Brownfield, Kent State

Ball State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Trinity Eckerty

Tieghan Morio

Stacy Payton

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