ROCHESTER, NY - Five members of the RIT softball team earned 2009 All-Empire 8 postseason honors on Tuesday. Shortstop
Emily McPherson (Pompey, NY/Fabius-Pompey) and catcher
Lisa Fronczak (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) were named to conference's first team, while pitcher/utility
Carlissa Cole (Alden, NY/Alden) and outfielder
Jen Hayden (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) garnered second team honors. Outfielder
Jenna Mausolf (Hudson, NY/Hudson) was RIT's representative as the Empire 8 Sportsperson of the Year.
McPherson, the 2008 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, was also a second team selection last season. This season, McPherson broke the RIT single-season record for home runs with eight and drove in 26 runs, while playing in all 37 games. She hit a team-best .413 with 50 hits, 29 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, nine triples and two doubles. She slugged a team-best .714. In Empire 8 play, McPherson hit .500 with four homers and 11 RBI, while slugging .909 in 12 games.
Fronczak, a sophomore, enjoyed an excellent first season with the Tigers, hitting .326 with nine doubles, one home run and 17 runs batted in. She hit .389 in Empire 8 play with a homer and seven RBI. On April 25, Fronczak set a Tiger single-game record with 11 total bases (a home run, triple and two doubles), leading RIT to a 12-8 win over Utica in game two of a doubleheader that clinched an Empire 8 playoff berth for RIT.
Cole, a 2008 All-Empire 8 honorable mention selection as a freshman, enjoyed a tremendous season on the mound and at the plate as a sophomore. Cole finished 13-11 on the mound with a 1.77 earned run average in 170.1 innings. At the plate, Cole led the Tigers with 27 runs batted in, while hitting five home runs and batting .323. In 12 Empire 8 contests, Cole hit .455 with nine RBI. Cole is second all-time at RIT with nine career home runs. On May 1, Cole threw a 16-inning shutout, leading RIT a 1-0 win over Ithaca in the Empire 8 Tournament.
Hayden enjoyed a breakout season in 2009, hitting .257 with 10 runs batted in. The sophomore outfielder played in 35 games and stole four bases. She hit .275 in 12 conference games.
Mausolf enjoyed a solid senior season, with two triples a home run and 10 RBI in 36 games.
RIT finished the 2009 season with a 19-18 record and were fourth in the Empire 8 with a 6-6 mark. The Tigers knocked off top-seed Ithaca, 1-0 in a school-record 16 innings in opening round action of the Empire 8 Tournament on May 1.