GWU's Meenaghan and Baker Both Earn NCCSIA Softball University Division All-State Honors
June 27, 2013 | Softball
High Point, N.C. - Gardner-Webb softball players Samantha Meenaghan and Morgan Baker both continued to receive awards for their strong 2013 seasons, as the duo both received 2013 North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) Softball University Division All-State recognition, it was announced on Thursday, June 27th.
Meenaghan received First-Team All-State honors, making it the third straight year in which she has been named to the NCCSIA All-State First-Team, while Baker earned a spot on the All-State Second-Team.
Meenaghan, who also received NCCSIA All-State First-Team recognition in both 2011 and 2012, was named to the 2013 Big South All-Conference First-Team and the College Sports Madness 2013 Big South All-Conference First-Team this season. The junior infielder, who played in and started all 44 games for GWU on the season, led GWU and was second in the Big South with a .427 batting average on the season overall, which ranks second overall in GWU's Division I single-season history. Meenaghan also led the Runnin' Bulldogs and was eighth in the Big South with 67 hits on the year, which ranks as the fourth most by an individual in GWU's DI single-season history, and in on-base percentage at 44.5 percent on the season. The lead-off hitter was first on the team with 30 runs scored, first with 90 total bases on the year and second on the team with a .573 slugging percentage, which ranks seventh overall in GWU's DI single-season record books. The Florida native was also second on the team with four home runs, two triples and seven doubles, while also finishing third on the team with five stolen bases on the season, as she was 5-of-6 on the year. Meenaghan was tops on the team and second in the League with an average of .477 in Big South Conference play and also led GWU and was second in the Big South with 42 hits in League play. She was fourth in Big South play with 55 total bases, seventh in Big South play with an on-base percentage of .478 in conference action and tied for seventh overall with 21 runs scored in the Big South. The three-time All-State member posted 26 multi-hit games, a team-high for the season, and also recorded four multi-RBI games on the year.
Baker, who earned her first-ever All-State recognition with her second-team selection, was named to the 2013 Big South All-Conference Second-Team this season. Baker, who played and started all 44 games for the Runnin' Bulldogs at first base, led the team with eight home runs and 11 doubles on the season, which both rank as the seventh most in GWU's Division I single-season record books. The four-hole hitter also led the team with 39 RBI on the year, which ranked ninth overall in the Big South and as the fifth most in GWU's DI single-season history. The three-year starter posted a team-best .582 slugging percentage on the season, which ranks as the sixth best slugging percentage by a student-athlete in GWU's DI single-season history. The Kentucky native was tied for the team lead in walks with 19, was third on the team with a .395 on-base percentage and with 22 runs scored, and hit .306 with a total of 41 hits on the season overall on the year. Baker hit .329 in conference play on the season, as she ripped seven doubles in League play, which ranked in a tie for the third most in the Big South, and totaled 23 RBI in Big South action, which ranked ninth in the League statistics. Named the Big South Player of the Week on February 25th, tallied nine multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games on the season.
Founded in 2002, the NCCSIA is comprised of sports information professionals from North Carolina's NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions for the purpose of promoting college athletics in the state. Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina whose responsibilities include sports information.
NCCSIA selects all-state teams in the university (NCAA Division I) and college (Division II, III, NAIA) divisions for women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, softball and baseball.
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NCCSIA Softball University Division All-State First Team
P: Raeanne Hanks, Jr., UNC Greensboro
P: Courtney Roberts, Fr., Campbell University
C: Lindsay Thomas, Fr., UNC Greensboro
IF: Ericka Nesbitt, So., Campbell University
IF: Lauryn Buckworth, Sr., UNC Wilmington
IF: Raven Lee, Jr., Campbell University
IF: Samantha Meenaghan, Jr., Gardner-Webb University
OF: Allie Cashion, Sr., Appalachian State University
OF: Tomeka Watson, Sr., Elon University
OF: Carleigh Nester, Jr., Elon University
DP: Katelyn Bedwell, Fr., UNC Greensboro
UTIL: Aisha Figueroa, Jr., UNC Greensboro
NCCSIA Softball University Division All-State Second Team
P: Sarah Christian, So., East Carolina University
P: Alissa Schoelkopf, So., Appalachian State University
C: Courtney Klingler, Fr., Campbell University
IF: Heather Robb, Sr., UNC Greensboro
IF: Kristi Oshiro, Jr., East Carolina University
IF: Jordan Lewis, Jr., East Carolina University
IF: Morgan Baker, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb University
OF: Briana Gwaltney, Sr., Charlotte
OF: Stephanie Jones, So., Campbell University
OF: Jessica Plemmons, Fr., Charlotte
UTIL: Amber Steinhardt, Sr., Western Carolina University
