May 16, 2002

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky junior Nikki Jones has been named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-South Region First Team, it was announced on Wednesday. She becomes the first Wildcat softball player to be named to the first team and just the second to be recognized by the NFCA.

“I am very honored,” Jones said. “I have worked very hard to get here and there is a lot more that I want to accomplish as a team.”

Jones, who was also named to the All-Southeastern Conference first team, finished the year with a .442 batting average, currently the ninth highest mark in the country and the fifth highest single-season average in SEC history. During the year she had a school-record 14-game hitting streak and hit safely in 41 of the 48 games she played this season, including 20 games where she recorded at least two hits. Her .506 slugging percentage and .466 on-base percentage also rank among the top five single-season marks in UK history.

Current UK junior Lyndsey Angus was the first Wildcat to be recognized by the NFCA, garnering second team All-South Region honors last season.

-UK-