Softball tabs six NAIA All-Americans - Oklahoma City University Athletics (2024)

Softball 6/5/2024 11:26:00 AM

Shelbey Cornelson becomes 3x All-American

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City softball team garnered six NAIA All-American selections with two first team, three second team and one third team bid.

Baileigh Loux - First Team

The 2024 Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year Baileigh Louxhauled in more accolades by being named to the NAIA first team all-American list after a stellar senior season. Louxtallied the third highest batting average in the nation at .517 while leading the Stars with 89 hits and a 1.421 OPS. Loux also notched 11 homers, 68 RBI, 68 runs scored and 19 doubles.

Louxspent most of her time during the 2024 season as the Stars center fielder with a handful of appearances behind the dish. Loux saw 29 games this season with multiple base hits, including nine games with three hits and a four-hit game in the 16-1 victory over Southwestern Christian in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament.

Loux rounds out the year as a three-time Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week, first team all-conference outfielder, the conference's Player of the Year and an NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Emersen Heron - First Team

Emersen Heron joins Louxwith a first team all-American selection after being one of the best two-way players in the country. On the offensive side, Heronbatted .414 and tallied the second most home runs on the team with 13 while leading the squad with 22 doubles and four triples.

Inside the circle, Heron displayed a perfect 24-0 record with a 0.89 ERA. The junior dealt 141.0 innings and gathered 90 strikeouts.

Heron broke in the month of March after a historic performance against Mid-America Christian where she tossed a complete game shutout while launching three home runs in a 3-0 win over the Evangels.

Kamryn Garvie - Second Team

Stars first basem*n Kamryn Garvie was selected as second team all-American in her second and final season with Oklahoma City. Garvie led the Stars with 15 home runs surpassing her 2023 total of 11.

Garvie slashed a line of .406/.487/.782on the season and ranked third in the country with 72 RBI. The Oklahoma City senior tallied 20 multi-hit games and saw one of her best performances come against Wayland Baptist on Apr. 6 where she went 3-for-3 with a pair of home runs and a season-high five RBI.

Shelbey Cornelson- Second Team

Wrapping up a historical career Shelbey Cornelson hauled in her third all-American selection in her OCU career.Cornelson went 25-5 inside the circle this season with a 1.34 ERA and 213 strikeouts.

Cornelson surpassed 100 career wins this season becoming the second winningest pitcher in program history on the afternoon of Apr. 24 in a 5-0 win over SAGU. Cornelson now sits behind Lily LaVellewhois the current program leader in career wins (122) and strikeouts in a career (1,411).

The Stars right-hander had five games this year with 10 or more strikeouts headlined by a career-high 15 strikeout game against Wayland Baptist on Apr. 5. Cornelson leaves 2024 with one SAC Pitcher of the Week award, a first tea all-conference selection and her third all-American bid.

Tara Hoeher - Second Team

There was only one freshman who made the 2024 NAIA all-American list and it was the Stars left fielder Tara Hoehner. After being named the SAC Freshman of the year Hoehnercontinued to gather up the accolades such as being selected to the first team all-conference and being named the NFCA Region III Freshman of the Year.

Hoehner put together a stellar rookie campaign after racking up a team-high 24 stolen bases and a .425 batting average along with 21 doubles, nine home runs and 56 RBI.

The Stars freshman put together three games this year with five-RBI in each contest including the Mar. 10 matchup against Mid-America Christian where she went 2-for-3 with two home runs.

Kaitlyn Jones - Third Team

After spending the majority of her OCU career in the outfield, senior Kaitlyn Jones made the transition to shortstop for the 2024 season in which she shined in. Her third team all-American selection partners with her first team all-conference award.

Jones ranked second on the team in batting average at .437 and in came in second in hits with 80. A starter in all 59 games at shortstop Jones closed the year with a hit in nine of her last 11 contests.