University of Minnesota Athletics
Hassett and Barnes Earn All-Big Ten Honors
5/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
University of Minnesota senior pitcher Briana Hassett and sophomore first baseman Malisa Barnes have been named to All-Big Ten teams in voting by the conference’s softball coaches, as announced by the Big Ten office Wednesday afternoon.
Hassett, a native of Eagan, Minn., and a graduate of Eastview High School, earned Second-Team All-Big Ten accolades for the second consecutive season. She is the first Minnesota player to earn back-to-back second-team or better honors since Shannon Beeler and Steph Klaviter were named to the first- or second-teams in consecutive years during 1998-99.
Voting for the all-conference teams is based on Big Ten-only statistics, and Hassett started all 20 conference games for the Gophers this season, registering 19 complete games and four shutouts. She was 6-14 with a 1.90 earned run average, striking out 161 and walking just 50 in 136 2/3 innings pitched. Hassett’s strikeout total this season ranks third in Big Ten softball history for a single conference season.
Hassett recorded Minnesota’s first win against nationally-ranked Northwestern since April 11, 2004, helping the Gophers defeat the Wildcats, 8-3, on April 8. She limited opponents to four hits or less eight times, and held foes to two or fewer runs on 12 occasions. In addition, she struck out seven or more batters in 16 of 20 games, and held opposing hitters to a .208 batting average.
"Briana had a tremendous senior season, and an unbelievable career at Minnesota," Gophers co-head coach Lisa Bernstein said. "She’s going to be missed, both on and off the field."
A native of Phoenix, Ariz., and Deer Valley High School, Barnes was named Third-Team All-Big Ten for the second year in a row after leading the Gophers in most offensive categories. Barnes batted .397 (23-for-58) in Big Ten play, with seven runs batted in, six runs scored, two doubles, two home runs, a .534 slugging percentage, and a .493 on base percentage. She was intentionally walked five times, which tied with Northwestern’s Tammy Williams for second in the Big Ten, and Williams was voted the Big Ten’s Player of the Year for the second year in a row.
Defensively, Barnes started every game at first base for the Gophers, and finished with just one error and a .992 fielding percentage. She had six multiple-hit games, including a season-high four hits with a home run in Minnesota’s Big Ten opener at Indiana on March 21. She had a seven-game hitting streak to open conference play, batting .571 (12-for-21) during that stretch.
"Malisa did a great job for us all season, and we’re very proud of her effort and accomplishments," Bernstein said. "We look forward to her picking up right where she left off this season."
In addition, one player from each team receives the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, and Minnesota’s honoree this season is senior outfielder Bethany Wolvington. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. They also must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
