Keller Named to NFCA Top 25 Freshman List
Story Courtesy of NIU Sports Information
DEKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University softball player Katie Keller was named a candidate for the Schutt Sports/NFCA DI Freshman of the Year Award when she was named to the 2019 Schutt Sports/NFCA DI Freshman of the Year Top 25 the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced Thursday.
Keller is the first NIU (22-21, 7-7) and Mid-American Conference softball player to be named a candidate for award since its inception in 2014.
The Geneva, Ill. native leads the MAC and ranks 36th nationally and sixth among the country's freshmen, with a .423 batting average in 38 games played for in her initial collegiate campaign. Her 0.44 doubles per game ranks second in the country and also leads the league. Keller, who prepped at Geneva High School, has 17 doubles on the year, the most by any freshman in the country, which ranks eighth in the nation and second in the conference.
Keller's walk-off three-run homer in the second game of last night's doubleheader sweep of Loyola helped elevate her slugging percentage to .721, which ranks fifth in the MAC and 99th nationally. Her on-base percentage of .492 ranks third in the league.
On May 9, the list will be pared down to the top 10 and the three finalists will be released May 21. The Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented at the College World Series May 28.
Keller and the Huskies return to action Friday when NIU resumes conference play at Central Michigan. First pitch for game one of the series is set for 2 p.m., while Saturday's doubleheader starts at 12 p.m. CT.
