Hollingsworth, Watson Named NFCA Second-Team All-Region on Thursday
5/17/2018 1:56:00 PM | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Julia Hollingsworth and Emily Watson were named Second-Team All-Central Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), the organization announced on Thursday.
This is the second year that the pair have been selected to an NFCA All-Region squad as Hollingsworth was a third-teamer a season ago, while Watson was on the second-team prior to earning NFCA Second-Team All-America honors.
Hollingsworth, who was a first-team American Athletic Conference pick and a member of the American Championship All-Tournament Team, enters play at the NCAA Norman Regional this weekend with a team-leading .394 batting average to go along with seven doubles, a program-record seven triples, three homers and 18 RBIs. Batting in the leadoff spot of the Tulsa lineup, she owns a .495 on-base percentage and also leads the squad with 12 stolen bases in 14 attempts.
Last weekend at the American Championship, Hollingsworth hit .571 (4-for-7) with two triples, a homer, three RBIs, four walks and a stolen base. She recorded a 1.571 slugging percentage and a .750 on-base percentage. Hollingsworth started each game of the championship by getting on base and scoring in the top of the first inning.
Meanwhile, Watson enters the regional with a 23-11 record, 1.55 ERA and 300 strikeouts in 225.2 innings pitched this season. The Edmond, Okla., native was named the USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Week on Tuesday following her performance at the American Championship. There, Watson went 3-0 with a 0.33 ERA and a tournament-record 36 strikeouts, while helping Tulsa defeat the league's top three seeds (Wichita State, Houston, USF; all are NCAA at-large teams) in consecutive days to earn the championship's Most Outstanding Player honors.
She is the first league player to earn MOP honors twice and she is the first pitcher in Tulsa history to record at least 300 strikeouts in back-to-back seasons.
Hollingsworth, Watson and the Golden Hurricane (33-23) will open play at the Norman Regional against Missouri (28-27) on Friday, May 18. First pitch is set for 3:34 p.m. and the contest can be seen on ESPN3.
This is the second year that the pair have been selected to an NFCA All-Region squad as Hollingsworth was a third-teamer a season ago, while Watson was on the second-team prior to earning NFCA Second-Team All-America honors.
Hollingsworth, who was a first-team American Athletic Conference pick and a member of the American Championship All-Tournament Team, enters play at the NCAA Norman Regional this weekend with a team-leading .394 batting average to go along with seven doubles, a program-record seven triples, three homers and 18 RBIs. Batting in the leadoff spot of the Tulsa lineup, she owns a .495 on-base percentage and also leads the squad with 12 stolen bases in 14 attempts.
Last weekend at the American Championship, Hollingsworth hit .571 (4-for-7) with two triples, a homer, three RBIs, four walks and a stolen base. She recorded a 1.571 slugging percentage and a .750 on-base percentage. Hollingsworth started each game of the championship by getting on base and scoring in the top of the first inning.
Meanwhile, Watson enters the regional with a 23-11 record, 1.55 ERA and 300 strikeouts in 225.2 innings pitched this season. The Edmond, Okla., native was named the USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Week on Tuesday following her performance at the American Championship. There, Watson went 3-0 with a 0.33 ERA and a tournament-record 36 strikeouts, while helping Tulsa defeat the league's top three seeds (Wichita State, Houston, USF; all are NCAA at-large teams) in consecutive days to earn the championship's Most Outstanding Player honors.
She is the first league player to earn MOP honors twice and she is the first pitcher in Tulsa history to record at least 300 strikeouts in back-to-back seasons.
Hollingsworth, Watson and the Golden Hurricane (33-23) will open play at the Norman Regional against Missouri (28-27) on Friday, May 18. First pitch is set for 3:34 p.m. and the contest can be seen on ESPN3.
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