Beaubien Among 10 Finalists for National Freshman of the Year, POY
5/10/2018 1:20:00 PM | Softball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan freshman LHP Meghan Beaubien was named one of 10 finalists for both the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Freshman of the Year, the organizations announced this week.
Beaubien, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year, ranks among the national leaders in all major pitching categories, holding the nation's top spot in both wins (32) and shutouts (12), while ranking third in hits allowed per game (3.01) and earned-run average (0.90). She has tossed three no-hitters this season -- combining for a fourth -- while posting the most regular-season wins for a Wolverine pitcher in program history.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is voted on by coaching representatives of 11 Division I Conferences in the 10 USA Softball Regions, members of the media who consistently cover Division I Softball across the country as well as past winners of the award -- among them, Michigan's Sierra Romero (2016). Beaubien was originally named one of 25 finalists for player of the year on April 25.
The finalists for the Collegiate Player of the Year include two seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen and represent seven NCAA Division I universities and four athletic conferences. The finalists also consist of six pitcher, two outfielders and two utility players.
In its fifth year, the Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. Each of this year's finalists hail from 10 different universities and represents six Division I conferences from across the nation. Beaubien is lone Big Ten representative and one of three pitchers among the finalists.
The top three finalists for both awards will be released on May 23, and winners will be announced at the NCAA Women's College World Series banquet on May 29 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
