MSU softball star named finalist for NFCA National Freshman of the Year

She also currently ranked #1 in the country for triples

On Thursday our very own Ebonee Echols was nominated to be a finalist for the NFCA 2016 Freshman of the Year award. Ebonee is the only player to be on this list from a Big Ten school. Although she’s has faced a couple of small injuries this season, she still manages to lead the team with her .383 batting average, (10th in the B1G 10), and 16 of her 46 hits have gone for extra bases. She is tied for third in the Big Ten with seven sacrifice bunts and ninth in the Conference in stolen bases (12), sitting just outside the top 15 with 46 hits.

In Big Ten games only, Ebonee is hitting .417 with a .750 slugging percentage, appearing in 12 of 14 games with a team-best 15 hits, three triples, and 14 runs scored. She also has seven RBI.

Naturally a middle infielder, she has also played left field and DP in her first season as a Spartan. Teammates of hers have been facing injuries this season and as a result she has learned to play in their spots and Coach Jackie Joseph isn’t afraid to move her players around. Echols is currently tied for a school record in doubles per game, hitting two during their series vs Maryland at the beginning of the month. Eight triples earns her the co-title with most amounts in a season. Sharing that title with her is Jessica Nathan from Florida A&M. She also is on track to get close to the school record which is held by Izzy Forester at 12.

This year’s 25 finalists hail from 22 different universities, while the group represents 12 Division I leagues from across the nation. Florida and Texas A&M out of the Southeastern Conference and Oklahoma from the Big 12 each boast two selections.

“I’m thrilled that Ebonee is getting recognition for the season she is having,” said head coach Jacquie Joseph.  “We brought her to MSU knowing that she was a player that could be a game-changer.  What I think I am most excited about is that we know that she’s not yet scratched the surface – that there is so much more to come.  She’s been hampered by some injury issues since before our Big Ten season began, so we haven’t yet seen the best of what Ebonee has to offer.  The recognition is wonderful for her and for our entire program.”

On Thursday May 12th the NFCA board will trim the list from 25 down to just 10 players. Then again on the 25th, they will pick their top three. The winner will be announced before the start of the annual Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City on the 31st. Just two years old, the award was started to honor outstanding athletic achievement among freshmen softball student-athletes throughout Division I.

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