May 31, 2007

CSTV HIGHLIGHTS

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Marshall junior catcher Rachel Folden was selected to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American Second team in an announcement made by the NFCA on Wednesday. Folden, the 2006 C-USA Player of the Year and a 2007 First Team All-Conference USA selection, is making her second consecutive appearance on the All-American second team.

"To be named All-American each of her three seasons and 2nd team for back to back seasons is an amazing accomplishment," said Marshall head coach Shonda Stanton. "This recognizes Rachel as one of the top catchers in the nation and she is well deserving."

Folden is the only Marshall softball player ever to be named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American team. Folden is also the only Conference USA player to be named to any of the three All-American teams in 2007.

Folden finished her junior season as the Conference USA leader with a .408 batting average - the highest single-season average of her decorated career. She also finished as the league leader in slugging percentage (.758), on-base percentage (.560), runs scored (47) and walks (51).

She also finished second in home runs (14), fourth in RBI (47) and eighth in stolen bases (12).

"To put up the numbers Rachel posted this season is incredible, considering the number of times teams that passed her by with walks and the fact that she is an opponent's focus on scouting reports," said Stanton.

Folden led the team in eight different offensive categories. She finished second on the team with 64 hits, while striking out a team-low nine times in 157 at bats. She later became the first player in school history to record 100-plus total bases in three consecutive seasons.

During the season, Folden became the school's all-time leader in home runs (41) and RBI (163). She also tied Jessica Williams for fifth on the school's all-time hits list with her 201st base hit of her career. She trails school record-holder Amanda Williams (265) by 64 hits.

"We are excited about her senior season and the opportunity for her to face some of the best pitchers with teams that are currently in the 2007 Women's College World Series like Arizona and Arizona State on our schedule next year," said Stanton. "This will give Rachel the chance to chase being named First Team, something that she will be working on all summer to help her acheive not only her individual goals but also her goals of taking our team to the post-season."

For the complete list of honorees, please visit www.nfcs.org.