Softball team marks record-setting season


By Maegan Azpiazu

The FIU softball team made history this past spring, posting a record-breaking season and advancing further than any other Panther athletic squad to secure the program’s second National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Tournament bid of all-time, as well as its first ever post-season victory.

En route to a final record of 38-21, the Panthers saw a program-high four student-athletes earn NFCA All-South Region honors as FIU also swept the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) postseason awards. In addition, FIU placed five student-athletes on all-conference squads, including a school record-tying four First Team selections, while head coach Beth McClendon was tabbed Co-Coach of the Year. The nod marked the second of McClendon’s career, as she became just the second FIU softball coach to earn such recognition.

“I thought 2010 was a huge step forward for the program,” said McClendon. “We accomplished great things and truly raised the bar for FIU softball. The greatest part was that we did it with so many young kids, and the future is even brighter.”

First Team All-SBC pick Jessy Alfonso and SBC Player of the Year Ashley McClain were named to the All-South Region First Team while SBC Pitcher of the Year Kasey Barrett and SBC Freshman of the Year Brie Rojas earned second team recognition. Both Barrett and McClain’s post-season SBC honors marked the first of their kind in FIU softball history, while Rojas became the third FIU softball player to earn Freshman of the Year honors.

These prestigious awards were not the only indicators of extraordinary success for the Panthers. FIU saw numerous team and individual highs throughout the campaign, including 12 SBC Player or Pitcher of the Week honors and an 8-3 victory at No. 4 Florida to mark the program’s first ever win over a top-five opponent, as well as McClendon’s 90th career victory.

McClain recorded an FIU single-season record 56 RBIs, while Barrett posted 240 strikeouts to mark another single-season best. Barrett graduated with 595 strikeouts as she became just the second pitcher in FIU history to post 500 K’s for her career.

FIU’s outstanding season came to a close with a loss to eventual College World Series participant Florida, but not before the Panthers bounced back from a tough NCAA Tournament opening round loss to UCF by shutting out back-to-back opponents on the same day to earn a spot in the Regional final.

In just three seasons at the helm of the FIU softball team, McClendon has put the Panther softball program on the map, with FIU emerging as an elite team in the Sun Belt Conference and in the nation. While striving to be the best while competing against the best, McClendon hopes to build upon the success of 2010 for years to come.

“In 2011 we will surely miss Kasey and her veteran leadership but I hope the team will be even stronger, as the core group has been to the NCAA Tournament and will continue to grow,” said McClendon. “The addition of some key freshmen will really improve this team as well. The 2010 signing class is an extremely strong group. The schedule for next season is tougher than last year’s and boasts some great competition. It should be an exciting year for FIU.”

Maegan Azpiazu is an FIU Athletics media relations coordinator.

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