Harrell And Looper Headline Bulldogs In NCAA Statistical Rankings
May 16, 2007 | Softball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – After reaching the A-Sun Championship game, the Gardner-Webb softball team concluded the season with two of its players among the national rankings in various statistical categories.
Freshman Melody Harrell, who garnered All-Freshman team and All-Tournament team honors, lived up to her billing after concluding her season 10th in the country in RBIs per game. Helped out by a six RBI performance in the 8-0 win against Campbell in the opening round of the conference tournament, Harrell finished the year with 51 RBIs in just 47 games for a 1.09 RBI per game average. She missed the first 15 games of the season due to injury.
Senior Abbie Looper, who recorded her sixth triple of the season against ETSU in the second round of the conference tournament, ended her season and career 14th in the country in triples per game during the 2007 season. Her six triples in 61 games gave her an average of 0.10 triples per game.
As a team, the Bulldogs finished 23rd in triples per game. The squad combined to launch 15 triples in 62 games for a 0.24 triples per game average.
GWU was also ranked 47th nationally in stolen bases per contest, swiping 86 in 62 games for a 1.39 steals per game average. Looper led the way with a school-record tying 32 thefts while freshman Jessi Polk chipped in 20.
The Bulldogs, who finished the season 35-26-1, garnered the ninth-best turnaround in NCAA history after managing just 13 wins during the 2006 season.
With the abundance of talent returning, in addition to the signing of Top 100 prospect Cindy Boomhower, the Bulldogs look to take the next step in the program's history by reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2008.
For full statistical rankings, visit:
http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings?sportCode=WSB
