May 15, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky softball stars Lauren Cumbess, Griffin Joiner, Kelsey Nunley and Nikki Sagermann were named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Southeast Region Third Team for their impressive 2014 seasons on the diamond, it was announced Thursday.
Kentucky’s four honors marked the second most in a season in program history after five players were named to NFCA All-Region honorees in 2011. Cumbess was named to the team as a utility/pitcher, while Joiner was the lone catcher named to the third team. Nunley was one of two pitchers named to the third team, while Sagermann was the lone third baseman to earn third-team honors. This is the second NFCA honor for Cumbess, who was named to the All-Southeast Second Team last season, while it is the first for Joiner, Nunley and Sagermann.
A total of 392 players from 158 different programs were selected to the 2014 NFCA Division I All-Region squads. The award honors softball student-athletes from the NFCA’s 10 regions with first, second and third teams selected for each region. The all-region teams were voted on by NFCA member coaches from each respective region, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to one of three 2014 NFCA Division I All-American teams. A complete list of honorees from all 10 regions can be found here.
Cumbess is second on the team in batting average this season at .320 (55-for-172) with 10 doubles, one triple, eight homers and 34 RBI. The native of Normal, Ill., is also 10-1 in the circle with a 2.07 ERA this season, striking out 78 in 91.1 innings pitched. The senior ranks in the top 10 on UK’s career records list in games played (226), RBI (111), doubles (35), home runs (24), slugging percentage (.464), total bases (293), fielding percentage (.984), putouts (864), appearances (68), inning pitched (299.1), games started (57), ERA (2.83), opponent batting average (.215), strikeouts (257) and wins (29).
Joiner, who was named the NFCA/Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week earlier this season, is hitting .299 (50-for-167) this season with 10 doubles, nine homers and 30 RBI. The native of Hopkinsville, Ky., has started every game behind the plate and caught every pitch this season from a UK pitcher. Joiner, who has started an amazing 174 consecutive games at catcher, has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage this season with 10 runners caught stealing. The junior ranks top 10 on UK’s career records list in doubles (32), walks (90), home runs (23), slugging percentage (.500), fielding percentage (.990) and putouts (1,112). Joiner was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Defensive Team earlier this month by league coaches.
Nunley is having another fantastic season in the circle for Kentucky, sitting at 24-7 with a 2.07 ERA. The sophomore has pitched 213 innings this season with 164 strikeouts while opponents are hitting just .217 against her. Nunley is the only player in school history to win 20 games in a season, accomplishing the feat in each of her first two seasons with the Wildcats. The native of Soddy Daisy, Tenn., has defeated some of the best teams in the nation this season, including Auburn, Louisville, LSU, Texas, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Missouri and Kansas, who all made the NCAA Tournament. Nunley currently ranks top 10 on UK’s career records list in appearances (82), innings pitched (481.2), games started (54), ERA (2.11), opponent batting average (.216), strikeouts (357), wins (51) and saves (3). Nunley was named second-team All-SEC by league coaches earlier this month.
Sagermann is having her best season at the plate in her sophomore season with a .288 (45-for-156) average, including nine doubles, one triple and team highs in home runs with 13 and RBI with 46. The native of Buford, Ga., has an RBI in 24 of her last 39 games, including 12 multiple-RBI games during that stretch. Sagermann is currently tied for third all-time in homers for a single season, while she ranks fourth in RBI in that same category. In just two seasons, Sagermann already ranks in the top 10 all-time in school history in home runs with 20. Sagermann was named second-team All-SEC by league coaches earlier this month.
Kentucky is set to host its second NCAA Regional in as many seasons this weekend at John Cropp Stadium. UK will face Ohio on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET after James Madison and DePaul square off at 5 p.m. ET. Complete information on the regional is available at www.ukathletics.com/ncaasoftball.
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