Four Golden Hurricane Receive Conference Honors
5/10/2023 11:16:00 AM | Softball
TULSA, Okla. – The University of Tulsa softball's Haley Morgan and Imani Edwards were named to the American Athletic Conference First Team, leading four Golden Hurricane players who received conference honors, the league announced Wednesday.
Kylee Nash and MacKenzie Denson were named to the conference's second team.
"The American has tremendous athletes across the board, and to be recognized for all-conference is a big accomplishment," Tulsa head coach Crissy Strimple said. "Haley, MacKenzie and Imani have been a great one, two, three in our lineup all season, and Kylee has been a dual warrior for us at the plate and in the circle. We are happy to see their efforts rewarded."
A senior from Durant, Okla., Morgan finished the regular season with a .400 batting average, which led the Hurricane and was second best in the conference. The center fielder scored 44 runs and recorded seven doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 32 RBI while only striking out eight times. She was just as effective in the field, recording 73 putouts, the most by a Tulsa outfielder, while boasting a .963 fielding percentage.
Morgan finished the regular season strong with a conference Player of the Week selection after homering and doubling twice and driving in seven runs in a conference sweep at East Carolina. Morgan recorded a .435 batting average, .544 on-base percentage and .891 slugging percentage in conference play.
This was her second all-conference selection after being named to the all-rookie team in 2021.
Shortstop Imani Edwards is also making her second appearance on an all-conference team after joining Morgan in receiving all-rookie accolades in 2021. This season, Edwards batted .377 for the season and .400 in conference play. The junior from Tomball, Texas, collected a team-high 60 hits while recording five doubles, four triples and a pair of home runs to go with 21 RBI. She was also tied with Morgan for the team lead in stolen bases, succeeding 11 times while only getting caught once.
Edwards showed her prowess in the field as well. She was second on the team with 83 assists and had 62 putouts. Her athleticism led to more than a couple of highlights in the field.
In her first season with the Golden Hurricane, Denson had an immediate impact. The junior left fielder showcased her ability as a slapper to record infield singles, but also could find the gaps in the defense for an extra-base hit. She excelled at laying down sacrifice bunts, recording 10 on the season. Denson made sure when she came to the plate, the ball would get into play, striking out just nine times this season.
The transfer from Minnesota put together a .339 batting average with a pair of doubles and triples and 10 RBI. She finished 7-for-8 on stolen base attempts and drew eight walks.
This was Denson's first all-conference selection in her career.
As the lone returner from last season's pitching staff, Nash answered the call and then some for the Golden Hurricane this season. In the circle, she made 34 appearances and 18 starts. The junior hurler tossed 130.0 innings, the most of her career, and pitched seven complete games. She struck out 85 batters and held opponents to a .277 batting average against her this season.
When she wasn't in the circle, the Three Rivers, Mich., native was helping the team at the plate. Nash made 73 plate appearances this season, recording a .329 batting average with 24 hits, four doubles and 10 RBI. Nash also drew eight walks. Her two RBI double on Sunday lifted Tulsa to a 2-0 win over ECU to complete the sweep.
Tulsa and its four all-conference honorees are ready to start the American Athletic Conference Championship this weekend in Tampa, Fla. The Hurricane earned the No. 4 seed for the tournament and will face the No. 5 Houston Cougars in the quarterfinal round. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. on Thursday and will air on ESPN+.
2023 American Athletic Conference Softball Regular-Season Awards
Player of the Year
Sydney McKinney, Wichita State
Pitcher of the Year
Sarah Willis, Jr., UCF*
Defensive Players of the Year
Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida
Sami Hood, Wichita State
Rookie of the Year
Alex Aguilar, Wichita State*
Coaching Staff of the Year
Wichita State*
All-Conference First Team
P – Sarah Willis, UCF*
P – Gabriella Nori, South Florida
C – Jada Cody, UCF
1B – Zoe Jones, Wichita State
1B – Shannon Doherty, UCF
2B – Micaela Macario, UCF
3B – Turiya Coleman, Houston*
SS – Sydney McKinney, Wichita State*
SS – Imani Edwards, Tulsa
OF – Kennedy Searcy, UCF
OF – Haley Morgan, Tulsa
OF – Addison Barnard, Wichita State
OF – Lauren Lucas, Wichita State
DP/U/P – Vivian Ponn, South Florida
DP/U/Non-P – Bree Cantu, Houston*
All-Conference Second Team
P – Alex Aguilar, Wichita State
P – Lauren Howell, Wichita State
C – Lainee Brown, Wichita State
IF – Jasmine Williams, UCF
IF – Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida
IF – Marissa Trivelpiece, South Florida
IF – Sami Hood, Wichita State
OF – Chloe Evans, UCF
OF – Taylor Edwards, East Carolina
OF – Jordyn Kadlub, South Florida
OF – MacKenzie Denson, Tulsa
DP/U – Aubrey Evans, UCF
DP/U – Kylee Nash, Tulsa
All-Rookie Team
P - Alex Aguilar, Wichita State*
2B - Sami Hood, Wichita State
3B - Mackenzie Kila, East Carolina
SS - Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida
OF - Neely Taylor, Memphis
OF - Taylor Sedlacek, Wichita State
DP/U - Aubrey Evans, UCF
* denotes unanimous selection
Kylee Nash and MacKenzie Denson were named to the conference's second team.
"The American has tremendous athletes across the board, and to be recognized for all-conference is a big accomplishment," Tulsa head coach Crissy Strimple said. "Haley, MacKenzie and Imani have been a great one, two, three in our lineup all season, and Kylee has been a dual warrior for us at the plate and in the circle. We are happy to see their efforts rewarded."
A senior from Durant, Okla., Morgan finished the regular season with a .400 batting average, which led the Hurricane and was second best in the conference. The center fielder scored 44 runs and recorded seven doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 32 RBI while only striking out eight times. She was just as effective in the field, recording 73 putouts, the most by a Tulsa outfielder, while boasting a .963 fielding percentage.
Morgan finished the regular season strong with a conference Player of the Week selection after homering and doubling twice and driving in seven runs in a conference sweep at East Carolina. Morgan recorded a .435 batting average, .544 on-base percentage and .891 slugging percentage in conference play.
This was her second all-conference selection after being named to the all-rookie team in 2021.
Shortstop Imani Edwards is also making her second appearance on an all-conference team after joining Morgan in receiving all-rookie accolades in 2021. This season, Edwards batted .377 for the season and .400 in conference play. The junior from Tomball, Texas, collected a team-high 60 hits while recording five doubles, four triples and a pair of home runs to go with 21 RBI. She was also tied with Morgan for the team lead in stolen bases, succeeding 11 times while only getting caught once.
Edwards showed her prowess in the field as well. She was second on the team with 83 assists and had 62 putouts. Her athleticism led to more than a couple of highlights in the field.
In her first season with the Golden Hurricane, Denson had an immediate impact. The junior left fielder showcased her ability as a slapper to record infield singles, but also could find the gaps in the defense for an extra-base hit. She excelled at laying down sacrifice bunts, recording 10 on the season. Denson made sure when she came to the plate, the ball would get into play, striking out just nine times this season.
The transfer from Minnesota put together a .339 batting average with a pair of doubles and triples and 10 RBI. She finished 7-for-8 on stolen base attempts and drew eight walks.
This was Denson's first all-conference selection in her career.
As the lone returner from last season's pitching staff, Nash answered the call and then some for the Golden Hurricane this season. In the circle, she made 34 appearances and 18 starts. The junior hurler tossed 130.0 innings, the most of her career, and pitched seven complete games. She struck out 85 batters and held opponents to a .277 batting average against her this season.
When she wasn't in the circle, the Three Rivers, Mich., native was helping the team at the plate. Nash made 73 plate appearances this season, recording a .329 batting average with 24 hits, four doubles and 10 RBI. Nash also drew eight walks. Her two RBI double on Sunday lifted Tulsa to a 2-0 win over ECU to complete the sweep.
Tulsa and its four all-conference honorees are ready to start the American Athletic Conference Championship this weekend in Tampa, Fla. The Hurricane earned the No. 4 seed for the tournament and will face the No. 5 Houston Cougars in the quarterfinal round. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. on Thursday and will air on ESPN+.
2023 American Athletic Conference Softball Regular-Season Awards
Player of the Year
Sydney McKinney, Wichita State
Pitcher of the Year
Sarah Willis, Jr., UCF*
Defensive Players of the Year
Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida
Sami Hood, Wichita State
Rookie of the Year
Alex Aguilar, Wichita State*
Coaching Staff of the Year
Wichita State*
All-Conference First Team
P – Sarah Willis, UCF*
P – Gabriella Nori, South Florida
C – Jada Cody, UCF
1B – Zoe Jones, Wichita State
1B – Shannon Doherty, UCF
2B – Micaela Macario, UCF
3B – Turiya Coleman, Houston*
SS – Sydney McKinney, Wichita State*
SS – Imani Edwards, Tulsa
OF – Kennedy Searcy, UCF
OF – Haley Morgan, Tulsa
OF – Addison Barnard, Wichita State
OF – Lauren Lucas, Wichita State
DP/U/P – Vivian Ponn, South Florida
DP/U/Non-P – Bree Cantu, Houston*
All-Conference Second Team
P – Alex Aguilar, Wichita State
P – Lauren Howell, Wichita State
C – Lainee Brown, Wichita State
IF – Jasmine Williams, UCF
IF – Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida
IF – Marissa Trivelpiece, South Florida
IF – Sami Hood, Wichita State
OF – Chloe Evans, UCF
OF – Taylor Edwards, East Carolina
OF – Jordyn Kadlub, South Florida
OF – MacKenzie Denson, Tulsa
DP/U – Aubrey Evans, UCF
DP/U – Kylee Nash, Tulsa
All-Rookie Team
P - Alex Aguilar, Wichita State*
2B - Sami Hood, Wichita State
3B - Mackenzie Kila, East Carolina
SS - Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida
OF - Neely Taylor, Memphis
OF - Taylor Sedlacek, Wichita State
DP/U - Aubrey Evans, UCF
* denotes unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
Monday, February 02
Friday, February 28
Friday, February 28
Tuesday, February 25