Hollingsworth, Spell Headline TU’s All-Conference Honors
5/9/2018 2:00:00 PM | Softball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Julia Hollingsworth was named first-team American Athletic Conference, while Rylie Spell was tabbed the circuit's Defensive Player of the Year to headline six TU student-athletes who earned all-conference honors, it was announced on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Shelby Estocado, Haley Meinen, Emily Watson and Mikayla Whitten joined Spell on The American Second Team. Tulsa's six all-conference selections on the first or second team were the most of any program.
Hollingsworth led the Golden Hurricane by hitting .387 this season, which ranks second in the league, including a .371 mark during conference play. The Ennis, Texas, native led the circuit with 49 runs scored and she contributed 14 extra-base hits (seven doubles, five triples, two homers) and 15 RBI during the campaign. The outfielder's five triples are the second-highest single-season total in program history and that mark ranks 21st in the country this season. Hollingsworth also recorded a team-high 11 bases and 28 walks.
This is the second all-conference honor for Hollingsworth, who also was a first-team pick in 2016.
Spell recorded 348 putouts, 37 assists and just one error during the season for a .997 fielding percentage en route to the conference's top defensive honor. The junior threw out 40-percent of would-be base stealers this season and that number jumped to 60-percent during conference action as she allowed just six stolen bases in 15 attempts against league opponents. In the batter's box, she tied a team-high with seven homers to go along with three doubles and 19 RBI to help claim her first all-conference award.
Estocado also helped power the TU offense by hitting a career-high .355 this season to go along with a team-leading 12 doubles, seven homers and 40 RBIs. Her 40 RBIs led the league and she also ranks among the top 10 in the conference in slugging percentage (.578), runs scored (36), hits (59), doubles (12) and total bases (96). During conference play, she had four doubles, a pair of homers and led the team with 12 RBIs. This is the second all-conference honor for Estocado, who earned first-team honors in 2016.
Meinen also put together the best offensive season of her career, as she hit .309 with 10 doubles, five homers and 29 RBIs during the spring. The Houston native set career bests with 22 runs scored, 47 hits a .474 slugging percentage, a .358 on-base percentage and six stolen bases. During conference action, she produced four doubles, two homers and nine RBIs. This marks the second straight season that Meinen has earned second-team honors.
In the circle, Watson went 20-11 this season with a 1.68 ERA, eight shutouts, a save and 264 strikeouts in 204.2 innings pitched. A four-time American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week selection this season, Watson ranks seventh in the nation with her 264 Ks and she has registered a double-digit strikeout total in 13 games this season, including a season-high 15 punchouts against Saint Francis (Pa.). In league play, she recorded eight wins, four of which were shutouts, with a 1.79 ERA and a conference-best 126 strikeouts. No other league pitcher had more than 71 strikeouts during conference play. League foes hit just .201 against her this season. This is the second all-conference honor for Watson, who was a first-team pick a season ago.
Whitten came on strong during league play and she ranked second on the team with a .326 batting average during conference action. The Shawnee, Okla., native scored nine runs with a pair of doubles and a triple to go along with three RBIs. Whitten also stole four bases in five attempts and recorded a .360 on-base percentage in conference play. For the season, Whitten scored 19 runs and had four doubles, two triples and 11 RBIs. This is the first all-conference honor for the sophomore outfielder.
Tulsa will open play at the 2018 American Athletic Conference Championship against Wichita State at 9 a.m. (CT) on Thursday, May 10.
Meanwhile, Shelby Estocado, Haley Meinen, Emily Watson and Mikayla Whitten joined Spell on The American Second Team. Tulsa's six all-conference selections on the first or second team were the most of any program.
Hollingsworth led the Golden Hurricane by hitting .387 this season, which ranks second in the league, including a .371 mark during conference play. The Ennis, Texas, native led the circuit with 49 runs scored and she contributed 14 extra-base hits (seven doubles, five triples, two homers) and 15 RBI during the campaign. The outfielder's five triples are the second-highest single-season total in program history and that mark ranks 21st in the country this season. Hollingsworth also recorded a team-high 11 bases and 28 walks.
This is the second all-conference honor for Hollingsworth, who also was a first-team pick in 2016.
Spell recorded 348 putouts, 37 assists and just one error during the season for a .997 fielding percentage en route to the conference's top defensive honor. The junior threw out 40-percent of would-be base stealers this season and that number jumped to 60-percent during conference action as she allowed just six stolen bases in 15 attempts against league opponents. In the batter's box, she tied a team-high with seven homers to go along with three doubles and 19 RBI to help claim her first all-conference award.
Estocado also helped power the TU offense by hitting a career-high .355 this season to go along with a team-leading 12 doubles, seven homers and 40 RBIs. Her 40 RBIs led the league and she also ranks among the top 10 in the conference in slugging percentage (.578), runs scored (36), hits (59), doubles (12) and total bases (96). During conference play, she had four doubles, a pair of homers and led the team with 12 RBIs. This is the second all-conference honor for Estocado, who earned first-team honors in 2016.
Meinen also put together the best offensive season of her career, as she hit .309 with 10 doubles, five homers and 29 RBIs during the spring. The Houston native set career bests with 22 runs scored, 47 hits a .474 slugging percentage, a .358 on-base percentage and six stolen bases. During conference action, she produced four doubles, two homers and nine RBIs. This marks the second straight season that Meinen has earned second-team honors.
In the circle, Watson went 20-11 this season with a 1.68 ERA, eight shutouts, a save and 264 strikeouts in 204.2 innings pitched. A four-time American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week selection this season, Watson ranks seventh in the nation with her 264 Ks and she has registered a double-digit strikeout total in 13 games this season, including a season-high 15 punchouts against Saint Francis (Pa.). In league play, she recorded eight wins, four of which were shutouts, with a 1.79 ERA and a conference-best 126 strikeouts. No other league pitcher had more than 71 strikeouts during conference play. League foes hit just .201 against her this season. This is the second all-conference honor for Watson, who was a first-team pick a season ago.
Whitten came on strong during league play and she ranked second on the team with a .326 batting average during conference action. The Shawnee, Okla., native scored nine runs with a pair of doubles and a triple to go along with three RBIs. Whitten also stole four bases in five attempts and recorded a .360 on-base percentage in conference play. For the season, Whitten scored 19 runs and had four doubles, two triples and 11 RBIs. This is the first all-conference honor for the sophomore outfielder.
Tulsa will open play at the 2018 American Athletic Conference Championship against Wichita State at 9 a.m. (CT) on Thursday, May 10.
#ForOurCity
Players Mentioned
IF/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UT/P
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ SoftballSoftball | Tulsa vs Drake
Friday, February 28
Softball | Tulsa vs UMKC
Friday, February 28
SB | South Dakota State Postgame
Tuesday, February 25
Softball | Tulsa vs South Dakota State
Tuesday, February 25