OMAHA, Neb. -- Four Bruin softball players earned first-team Omaha World-Herald all-Nebraska honors, and another two gained honorable mention recognition in an announcement made today by the local newspaper.
Junior pitcher Katie Cunningham, senior pitcher Cory Carrillo, junior second baseman Liana McMurtry, and junior outfielder Alexa Sidel all earned first-team accolades, while sophomore catcher Atiana Rodriguez and senior pitcher Savannah Gunn were named to the honorable mention squad.
A third-team NAIA All-American and a second-team NFCA Region III honoree, Cunningham was named the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Player and Pitcher of the Year after earning first-team all-league honors for the third straight season. She was a four-time NSAA Pitcher of the Week and two-time NSAA Player of the Week this season, leading the league in wins (18), strikeouts (135), and ERA (1.83).
Carrillo earned second-team all-NSAA honors while setting the school's all-time record with nine saves on the season. She led the team with 9.17 strikeouts/7 innings and finished the year with a 1.67 ERA, 55 strikeouts, and a 1.05 WHIP. Carrillo struck out eight of the final nine batters while earning her first save of the season in BU's 5-3 upset at No. 17 Ottawa.
McMurtry garnered first-team all-NSAA accolades for the second-straight season while starting 55 games at second base. She batted .277 on the season with 10 doubles, 27 runs scored, and 18 RBIs. McMurtry produced 13 multi-hit games.
Sidel earned first-team all-NSAA honors while leading the Bruins and the NSAA with nine home runs. She started 55 games in the BU outfield, batting .317 with five doubles, two triples, nine home runs, and 27 RBIs. Sidel was second on the team with 17 stolen bases.
Rodriguez earned first-team all-NSAA honors while leading the team with a .335 batting average and four triples. She was the team's starting catcher in 55 games, belting nine doubles and driving in 23 runs. Rodriguez was named to the NSAA Gold Glove Team and was third on the team with 10 stolen bases while producing 15 multi-hit games.
Gunn collected first-team all-NSAA honors and was named to the NSAA Gold Glove team for the second straight season. She ranked second in the conference with a 2.63 ERA and third with 86 strikeouts and 13 wins. Defensively, Gunn did not have a fielding error on the season in 56 chances. She was twice named the NSAA Pitcher of the Week.
The Bruins wrapped up the 2024 season with an overall record of 34-22 and a 19-3 mark in conference play, winning the North Star Athletic Association regular season title while finishing second in the NSAA post-season tournament. Bellevue advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the 11th time in school history.
