January 29, 2013

Horsmon and Figueroa Named Preseason All-SoCon

SoCon Release

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Senior Eileen Horsmon (Dunkirk, Md./Northern) and junior Aisha Figueroa (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) were named Preseason All-Southern Conference, announced by the league office Tuesday. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or student-athletes in the balloting.

"I am looking forward to seeing Aisha (Figueroa) and Eileen (Horsmon) along with their Spartan teammates have a productive and memorable season," said head coach Janelle Breneman.

Georgia Southern was picked to win the league, earning seven first-place votes and 63 points in the poll. Chattanooga was second, earning two first-place votes with 58 points while College of Charleston was third with 50. Appalachian State was selected fourth with 38 points, followed by Elon with 32. The Spartans were picked sixth with 31 points, followed by Western Carolina (22 points), Samford (20) and Furman (10).

Appalachian State senior Allie Cashion was named the preseason Player of the Year while Georgia Southern junior Sarah Purvis was named the preseason Pitcher of the Year.

Horsmon, a senior from Dunkirk, Md., was a preseason second-team selection at first base. Horsmon hit .297 as a junior last season, leading UNCG with 10 doubles and second with 10 home runs. She also led the team with 46 RBI, which was sixth best in the SoCon and tied for the team lead with 30 runs scored. Horsmon made just eight errors in 389 putouts for a .981 fielding percentage. Her .564 slugging percentage was first on the team and had 12 multi-hit games.

"Eileen provides senior leadership in the infield, a player that works hard and pushes teammates by constant example," said head coach Janelle Breneman. "Eileen is a fitting pre-season selection, she will be a middle of the lineup power hitter for us and she is swinging well, attacking the ball with confidence."

Figueroa earns her second-straight preseason first team honor after being selected at shortstop last season. The junior from Virginia Beach, Va., hit .283 with 22 runs scored. She led the team with 14 stolen bases, which was tied for seventh in the SoCon. Figueroa also had 12 multi-hit games and four games with two or more runs scored. She was second on the team with 80 assists in the field.

"Aisha is a very talented versatile player and I am glad she received the first team nod," said Breneman. "Her offensive pop, short game and speed makes her a threat at the plate and on the bases. She will help us on defense at a few spots and has been working out in the infield and outfield."

UNCG will host the 2013 Southern Conference Softball Championship on May 8-11 at the UNCG Softball Stadium.

Preseason Southern Conference Poll

Team (First Place Votes)	Points
1. Georgia Southern (7)	63
2. Chattanooga (2)	58
3. College of Charleston	50
4. Appalachian State	38
5. Elon	32
6. UNCG	31
7. Western Carolina	22
8. Samford	20
9. Furman	10

Preseason Player of the Year
Allie Cashion, Outfield, Appalachian State

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern

Preseason First-Team All-Conference

P	Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
P	Stephanie Saylors, College of Charleston
C	Madison Dickey, Samford
1B	Kasey Tydingco, Chattanooga
2B	Sara Poteat, Chattanooga
SS	Lizzy Vaughn, College of Charleston
3B	Kelsey Hodgson, College of Charleston
OF	Allie Cashion, Appalachian State
OF	Cheyenne Willis, Chattanooga
OF	Tomeka Watson, Elon
DP	Shemekia Scotton, Western Carolina
UT	Aisha Figueroa, UNCG

Preseason Second-Team All-Conference

P	Taylor Deason, Chattanooga
P	Hope Klicker, College of Charleston
C	Sarah Warnock, Appalachian State
1B	Eileen Horsmon, UNCG
2B	Meghan Smith, Appalachian State
SS	Abby Adams, Samford
3B	Sarah Beth Roberts, Chattanooga
OF	Stephanie Rieck, Chattanooga
OF	Carleigh Nester, Elon
OF	Nikki Legg, Furman
DP	Lauren Collier, Furman
UT	Hope Klicker, College of Charleston

- UNCG -