BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Accolades continued to roll in for the Bellevue University softball team as Erin Sharpe's record-breaking season has earned her captain status for the Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska team. Additionally, two other Bruins earned first team Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska honors.
Bellevue had one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2017, winning 50 games (against just 16 losses) for just the second time in program history and making their ninth NAIA National Tournament appearance. The Bruins claimed their first NSAA Regular-Season Championship with a 20-6 mark in conference play.
A third baseman/pitcher, Sharpe rewrote the Bruins offensive record books, establishing new high-water marks for single-season home runs (28), RBI (77), extra-base hits (47), total bases (189), and slugging percentage (.950). In the circle she posted a 12-2 record with a 1.09 ERA and 66 strikeouts over 96.0 innings while firing a pair of no-hitters, including a perfect game against Jamestown in the NSAA Championship Series.
Outfielder Hannah Carter also earned a first team all-Nebraska nod after a terrific debut season in which she slashed .389/.440/.571 over 198 at-bats. She was among the team leads in batting average (second), on-base percentage (second), slugging percentage (second), hits (2nd, 77), extra-base hits (2nd, 21), RBI (3rd, 31), and stolen bases (2nd, 19) and led the club in hits with 77 and sacrifices with seven.
Pitcher Kelli Fisher was Bellevue's third first team selection. She posted a 30-7 record to go along with a 1.15 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 248.2 innings of work in the circle this season. She leaves a lasting mark on the BU program as she concludes her career with the program's all-time records for wins (89), appearances (147), starts (121), complete games (96), ERA (1.40), innings pitched (806.1), saves (10), and batters faced (3,299).
Two other Bruins – UT Emily Miller and OF Sydney Robertson – earned recognition on the honorable mention all-state team.
