COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced Wednesday its 2014 Daktronics-NAIA Softball Scholar-Athletes and three Bellevue University players earned the honor.
A native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Kristin Burhenne started in all 53 games and hit her first career grand slam in Bellevue's 6-0 win over Central Christian College on April 11.
Alyssa Matoba, who was named to the NFCA all-region second team, batted .395 with 38 runs and led the team with 23 stolen bases and a .451 on-base percentage. She also has the third-most career stolen bases in Bruin history with 53.
Taylor Mohler earned second team all-MCAC honors and compiled a 17-8 record with a 2.56 ERA in 150.1 innings pitched. She led the pitching staff with 230 strikeouts and averaged 10.7 strikeouts per game with three no-hitters.
In order to be nominated, the student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status.
A total of 297 NAIA student-athletes earned the award.
Bellevue finished the 2014 season with a 36-17 overall record and a 16-4 mark in the MCAC. The Bruins advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the second-straight season and seventh time in program history.
