INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Four Butler players, including one repeat selection, were named to the 2015 All-BIG EAST Softball Team, chosen by a vote of conference head coaches. The all-conference team was released by the BIG EAST on Wednesday, May 6, in advance of the upcoming league tournament.
All four Bulldogs were named second team all-conference. Senior Kristen Boros, a first team all-league pick a year ago, was joined on this year's honor squad by teammates Alex Kotter, Alyssa Lach and Brandyce Sallee. Boros was chosen as a second baseman, Kotter was named at first base, Lach was picked as a third baseman and Sallee was tabbed as an outfielder.
Kotter led the Bulldogs in hitting (.423) this spring, becoming the first Butler player to bat over .400 since 1981. Sallee finished second on the team in hitting (.348), while tying the school single season record for doubles (16). Boros batted .335 and led Butler in home runs (9) and RBIs (36). All three players ranked among the top 12 hitters in the BIG EAST. Lach started all 51 games in her rookie season and led the Bulldogs in assists (98). She batted .273 and set a school record for most times being hit by a pitch (14).
Butler was second among BIG EAST teams in number of players named to the all-conference team. League champ St. John's led the way with eight players selected, while DePaul, Seton Hall and Creighton each had three all-league selections. Providence had two players chosen and Villanova had one.
The Bulldogs narrowly missed advancing to the four-team BIG EAST Softball Championship for the second straight year. Butler tied with Villanova for fourth place in the league standings, but lost the tournament bid on a tiebreaker. The tournament begins in Chicago, Ill., on Friday, May 8.
2015 All-BIG EAST Softball Team
First Team
Tori Free, St. John's, Jr., P
Francesca Carrullo, St. John's, Sr., P
Erin Burner, St. John's, Sr., C*
Krystal Puga, St. John's, Fr., 1B
Morgan Maize, DePaul, Jr., 2B
Liz Dike, Creighton, Sr., SS
Alexis Walkden, Seton Hall, Fr., 3B*
Yasmin Harrell, Seton Hall, Jr., UT
Danielle DeStaso, Seton Hall, Sr., DP
Nicole Lundstrom, Providence, So., OF
Brittany Garcia, St. John's, So., OF
Lauren Zick, St. John's, Fr., OF
Second Team
Mary Connolly, DePaul, Sr., P
Kate Poppe, Villanova, Jr., P
Sabrina Kuchta, DePaul, Fr., C
Alex Kotter, Butler, Jr., 1B
Kristen Boros, Butler, Sr., 2B
Monique Landini, St. John's, So., SS
Alyssa Lach, Butler, Fr., 3B
Blake Ringle, Creighton, Jr., UT
Kristie Dederick, Providence, Sr., DP
Brandyce Sallee, Butler, So., OF
Allie Reinhart, Creighton, So., OF
Yvonne Rericha, St. John's, Jr., Of
*Unanimous selection.
BIG EAST Player of the Year: Erin Burner, St. John's
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year: Tori Free, St. John's
BIG EAST Rookie of the Year: Alexis Walkden, Seton Hall
BIG EAST Coach of the Year: Amy Kvilhaug, St. John's
