Softball Places Three on NFCA All-Region Squad

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - It was a day full of awards for the Ball State softball program, which saw three members of the squad earn National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I All-Region accolades.

After a record-breaking season, junior standout Faith Hensley was named to the NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team. In addition, senior catcher Stacy Payton and freshman shortstop Kayla Lissy were named to the NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team.

The 2021 NFCA All-Region awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first, second and third-team selections. NFCA member head coaches from each respective region voted on the teams, and all student-athletes now become eligible for the 2021 NFCA Division I All-America squads.

FIRST TEAM ALL-GREAT LAKES REGION: Faith Hensley
Hensley earns NFCA All-Region honors for the first time in her career after leading the Ball State offense with a .390 batting average, including 17 doubles, seven home runs and a pair of triples. A 2021 First Team All-MAC selection, her 17 doubles ranked third in the league this season, are currently 10th nationally and tie as the sixth-most in a single season in program history.

Hensley's team-leading 51 RBI were also third in the league and 24th nationally, while her 38 runs scored were 10th in the MAC. She also ranked 11th in the conference with 11 stolen bases. One of Ball State's most clutch batters throughout the season, Hensley drove in what proved to be the game-winning RBI in eight games, while crossing the plate for what stood to be the game-winning run six times. On three occasions, she drove herself in for the winning run courtesy of the long ball, including her first career grand slam versus Alcorn State (March 6).

Stacy Payton - NFCA All-Region Second Team

SECOND TEAM ALL-GREAT LAKES REGION: Stacy Payton
Payton earns NFCA All-Region honors for the second straight awards season, as she was also third team selection in 2019. A 2021 First Team All-MAC honoree, Payton ranked second on the team with a .369 average, 14 doubles and 43 RBI. Overall, 21 of her 58 hits when for multiple bases, including six home runs and a triple.

Payton also scored 29 runs on the year, including what stood to be the game-winning run in three contest. She also had what stood as the game-winning RBI with a two-run home run in the opening game at NIU (May 12). Defensively, Payton was one of the league's hardest catchers to steal against as she threw out eight of the 24 runners attempting to steal with her behind the plate.

Kayla Lissy - NFCA All-Region Second Team

SECOND TEAM ALL-GREAT LAKES REGION: Kayla Lissy
Lissy earns NFCA All-Region honors for the first time in her career after leading the MAC and currently tying for the NCAA Division I lead with nine triples. A 2021 Second Team All-MAC honoree, Lissy also recorded an inside-the-park home run in the opening game of the March 27 doubleheader versus Bowling Green.

Lissy was just as fast on the base paths, ranking fifth in the MAC with 18 stolen bases. Two of those stolen bases were swipes of home, including what proved to be the game-winning run at Jacksonville State (March 9). Overall, Lissy scored three game-winning run one the season, while driving in a pair of game-winning RBI. She also blasted her first career grand slam in the opening-game win at Buffalo (March 15).

ABOUT THE 2021 BALL STATE SOFTBALL TEAM
The 2021 Ball State softball team set the program record with 31 MAC wins, produced the longest single-season MAC winning streak in program history at 16 games, and tied a program record with an 11-game winning streak.

The team's 37 overall wins tied as the fourth-most in a single season in program history, while the Cardinals set program records for batting average (.329), on base percentage (.415) and doubles (101).

The 2021 season also saw senior pitcher Alyssa Rothwell become the greatest closer in NCAA Division I history with her 33rd career save in last Friday's (May 14) 6-3 win at Buffalo. In all, Ball State's pitchers finished 2021 ranked in the top 10 nationally with 10 total saves.

Players Mentioned

Faith Hensley

Kayla Lissy

Stacy Payton

Alyssa Rothwell

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