Four Lions Earn Softball All-America Honors From USCAA
AKRON, OHIO – Four Penn State Brandywine softball players were honored by the USCAA with all-American awards at the Association's annual banquet prior to the start of the World Series on Sunday night. Freshmen Katie DeStefano (Kennett Square, Pa./Kennett) and Katy Steffen (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown) both earned first team accolades, while sophomore Lindsey Dellavecchio (Ridley Park, Pa./Interboro) was named to the second team and freshman Lauryn Geduldick (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) was selected honorable mention.
DeStefano went 9-6 with one save in 17 appearances (16 starts) in the circle, posting a 2.23 earned run average and 78 strikeouts in 84.2 innings of work. She dominated in conference play, winning all seven of her starts against PSUAC teams. She allowed just six earned runs during 54.0 innings for a 1.02 ERA against league foes.
During an eight-start stretch from Mar. 29-Apr. 18, DeStefano fired five one-hitters. In addition to tossing seven shutouts overall, DeStefano batted .378 with 14 runs batted in and 11 runs scored during 37 at-bats.
Steffen provided power in the middle of the lineup for the Lions all season, finishing tied for fourth nationally in home runs with seven. Her 47 RBI ranked second in the USCAA, while her 34 runs scored tied for 13th.
In 32 starts, Steffen batted .385 with a team-high 23 extra-base hits.
Dellavecchio set the table for the Lions' offense, batting .404 as the team's leadoff hitter. She recorded 38 hits and scored 39 runs, the sixth-highest total in the USCAA, while driving in 22 and stealing a team-best 15 bases. She struck out just six times in 94 at-bats.
Dellavecchio also displayed her strong arm in center field, throwing three runners out at the plate.
A starter in all 32 games at shortstop, Geduldick batted .325 and recorded a .464 on-base percentage after working a team-leading 24 walks. She drove in 23 runs, while clubbing a pair of home runs and crossed home 34 times.
Brandywine, which is making its USCAA World Series debut, begins tournament play as the No. 3 seed on Monday against No. 6 New Hampshire Technical Institute at 2:00 pm in Akron, Ohio.
