Seven From Brandywine Earn All-PSUAC Softball Honors

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Senior Rachel Cherubini (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) led seven Penn State Brandywine softball student-athletes who earned All-Penn State University Athletic Conference after being named to the first team on Thursday. Six more Lions claimed honorable mention laurels.

Brandywine's six honorable mention selections included senior Haley Grossi (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick), sophomores Destiny Brophy (Bristol, Pa./Bristol) and Payton Landis (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) and freshmen Meghan Ferry (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City), Rebecca Halford (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) and Sarah Moore (New Holland, Pa./Pequea Valley).

Cherubini, who started 20 games in right field, was named First Team All-PSUAC for the third consecutive season. Cherubini batted .362 with 21 hits, giving her 124 for her career, the third-highest total in team history. From the leadoff spot in the lineup, Cherubini scored a team-best 31 runs and stole eight bases, while driving in 16 runs. She reached base safely in 16 of her final 17 games and scored at least one run during each of the team's final nine regular-season contests.

Grossi also collected her third all-league nod after making the move to shortstop from second base for her senior season. She produced 20 hits in 20 games, batting .364 overall. Grossi scored 20 runs, while knocking in 16 and produced a .493 on-base percentage after walking 13 times in 68 plate appearances.

Brophy made 22 starts, primarily at third base, and topped the Lions with 28 hits. She batted .400, while tying for the team lead with 24 RBI. From April 13-24, Brophy hit safely in 15 consecutive games, tied for the third-longest hitting streak in team history. Overall, she hit safely 19 times and produced eight two-hit games. Six of her 28 hits went for extra bases.

Landis started 16 games at first base and hit .340 with two home runs and 16 RBI. She drove in at least one run and scored at least one run in 12 of Brandywine's final 13 games. Landis also ranked third on the team with seven extra-base hits and posted a .448 on-base percentage.

Ferry led Brandywine in stolen bases (11), home runs (3) and extra-base hits (11), while starting all 22 games as a rookie. All three of her home runs came during a doubleheader sweep of Schuylkill on April 16, including a two-home run, five-RBI performance in game one. Three times Ferry scored at least three runs and she crossed home 30 times overall during the season, good for second on the team. Ferry also knocked in 15 runs and worked 15 walks.

Halford tied for the team lead with eight victories over 13 appearances in the circle during her freshman season. Seven of her eight victories came via complete-game shutout, a conference-high total, as she held the opposition to two or fewer hits in three of those contests. Overall, Halford pitched to a 2.38 earned run average and struck out 37 hitters in 64.1 innings.

Moore started every game this spring, primarily in left field, for the Lions. She posted a .306 batting average after collecting 19 hits in 62 at-bats, while driving in 14 runs. Moore also scored 10 runs and fired a no-hitter against Penn State Scranton during her only pitching appearance of the season on April 19.

In addition, Alexia Galli (Glenolden, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) was the recipient of the John Fritz Sportsmanship Award from the conference. Named after former PSUAC Commissioner John Fritz, the sportsmanship award is given to one player from each team in the league who best displays the core values of the league and sportsmanship to teammates and opponents throughout the season. Galli collected six hits, six RBI and eight runs scored in 19 games behind the plate.

Brandywine (17-5) earned the No. 1 seed from the PSUAC East Division and will open the PSUAC Tournament Sunday in DuBois against West Division No. 3 Penn State New Kensington at 1:30 pm.