May 24, 2010
ST. LOUIS -
Illinois State junior second baseman Kara Nelson and sophomore pitcher Megan Warner were named to the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete First Team, while senior center fielder Beth Current earned honorable mention honors, as announced by the league office Monday afternoon.
Nelson led the Valley and the Redbirds in batting average (.405) and hits (64) at the end of the regular season. The junior second baseman ended the season with a .395 batting average, 68 hits and 49 runs. It is the third time in her career that Nelson has recorded 40 or more hits and runs scored in a single season. The Moline, Ill., native led Illinois State in doubles (15) and at-bats (172) and is the first Redbird softball player to record 50 or more hits in three-consecutive seasons. Her league-leading offensive performance earned her the MVC Player of the Week honor (March 29). Nelson has a 3.27 grade-point average (GPA) in business administration and has been a member of the AFNI Honor Roll.
Warner had a strong sophomore season in the circle for the Redbirds. She ended the 2010 campaign with an ERA of 2.20 and 125 strikeouts. Warner recorded five shutouts, including two during Illinois State's regular-season series sweep over Bradley (May 8-9). Warner also threw a no-hitter against Southern Illinois in ISU's 1-0 win (April 17), the first of Warner's collegiate career and the first for a Redbird pitcher since pitching coach Shannon Nicholson accomplished the feat against Wright State on March 12, 2005. Warner was also named the MVC Pitcher of the Week (May 10) and earned the Prairie Farms/MVC Scholar Athlete of the Week (May 11). The Milan, Ill., native, has a 3.80 GPA in exercise science and was named to the AFNI Honor Roll her freshman year.
Current hit four doubles, two triples, three home runs and 15 RBI during the 2010 season. She had a .510 slugging percentage and a .395 on-base percentage. She led the Redbirds' offensive performance in the 2010 NCAA Division I Regional against Notre Dame (May 21), where she went 3-for-4 with one double. Current started all 50 games in center field for the Redbirds, recording a .962 fielding percentage with 45 putouts. The Bloomington, Ill., native has a 3.67 GPA in exercise science and was also a AFNI Honor Roll member.
The MVC Scholar-Athlete Team is voted on by the league's sports information directors. To be eligible, a player must have at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA, be at least a sophomore in academic and athletic standing with one season at the Valley institution and participate in 75 percent of her team's games or the Valley Championship.
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