May 20, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced Wednesday that senior Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) of the UCF softball team earned a spot on the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Mideast Region Second Team, becoming the seventh player in program history to be named to an all-region squad.
"Ashleigh really took being a leader of this team to heart this year," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "She put a lot of hard work into training in the off-season to prepare for her senior season. To have all of that hard work and dedication pay off with this honor and with the team playing in the NCAA Tournament this weekend makes me extremely proud."
Just last week, Cole was named to the All-Conference USA First Team after posting a 23-13 record in the circle this season. The hurler boasts a 1.49 ERA, five shutouts and 163 strikeouts in 244.2 innings pitched in 2010.
Cole also earned a spot on the C-USA Championship All-Tournament team by leading the Black and Gold to its second league tournament title game in three years. During the event, the senior started all three games, totaling a 2-1 record, as well as a 1.05 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 20.0 innings of work.
The senior currently ranks 27th nationally in ERA, 36th in victories and 66th in fewest hits allowed per seven innings. She also ranks ranks in UCF's top-four in 14 career pitching categories, while ranking in the top-two all-time in nine.
Cole posted wins over three ranked opponents this season, including No. 16 Tennessee, No. 9 Alabama and No. 22 Ohio State, and holds a 1.75 ERA, one shutout, 26 strikeouts and a .198 opponent batting average in six starts against ranked opponents in 2010.
The UCF softball team is set to take on Florida International Friday at 3:30 p.m., in the opening round of the NCAA Gainesville Regional, hosted by No. 4 overall seed Florida.
The host Gators and Bethune-Cookman will also participate in the four-team regional which follows a double-elimination format.
The regional winners will advance to super regional competition for a best-of-three series May 28-29 at eight campus sites.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
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