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Photo by: Brad Rempel
'U' Secures Four NFCA All-Region Selections
5/19/2022 8:00:00 PM | Softball
Full NFCA Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Minnesota softball had four student-athletes named to the 2022 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I All-Region Teams, it was announced Thursday. A total of 381 players from 152 programs received the accolades, including Natalie DenHartog (second team), Makenna Dowell, Lauren Espalin and Chloe Evans (third team) representing the Maroon & Gold.
DenHartog is the lone Golden Gopher honoree on the Great Lakes Region Second Team, as she has earned an all-region nod three times in her collegiate career. The senior paces the team launching 18 home runs, which ranks 19th nationally, while her 118 total bases is 38th in the NCAA. The Hopkins, Minn., native has a .340 batting average and started all 51 games in center field. Her .728 slugging percentage paces the team and she currently is on a 15-game streak of reaching base safely.
Dowell has started every game in 2022 at shortstop and quickly became a fan favorite thanks to her dazzling defense for Minnesota landing on the all-region team. Hailing from Suwanee, Ga., she helped the Gophers turn 11 double plays and recorded a .974 fielding percentage in more than 150 chances in the field. Offensively, she is tied for the team lead earning 31 free bases on her way to a .394 on-base percentage and also struck for a .261 batting average with 11 extra-base hits.
Espalin picked up all-region accolades by leading Minnesota with a .349 batting average and played all 51 games, primarily as the designated player. She tied a school record with seven RBI at Rutgers hitting a grand slam and a three-run home run in consecutive at-bats. The San Dimas, Calif., product put together a team-high 18 games with multiple hits, including a 4-for-4 effort against Nicholls. The graduate senior has done it all for the Gophers tallying 11 doubles and hit six home runs, while adding 37 runs scored, 24 RBI and 25 walks.
Evans, an All-Big Ten Conference Second Team selection this season, paces the Gophers driving in 44 runs in 51 starts in the outfield earning the first all-region honor of her career. The Seymour, Wis., has posted four RBI in four different contests and reached base safely in 40 of 51 games aided by 25 walks. The sophomore has crossed home plate 32 times and is tied for the team lead hitting 11 doubles and one triple totaling a .329 batting average.
The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first, second and third-team selections. NFCA member head coaches from each respective region nominated student-athletes and voted for the teams. All awarded student-athletes now become eligible for the 2022 NFCA Division I All-America squads.
Up Next
The Gophers get set to battle the Aggies of Texas A&M Friday afternoon in the opening game of the 2022 NCAA Norman Regional. Tune in live on ESPN2 for first pitch at 4 p.m.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Minnesota softball had four student-athletes named to the 2022 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I All-Region Teams, it was announced Thursday. A total of 381 players from 152 programs received the accolades, including Natalie DenHartog (second team), Makenna Dowell, Lauren Espalin and Chloe Evans (third team) representing the Maroon & Gold.
DenHartog is the lone Golden Gopher honoree on the Great Lakes Region Second Team, as she has earned an all-region nod three times in her collegiate career. The senior paces the team launching 18 home runs, which ranks 19th nationally, while her 118 total bases is 38th in the NCAA. The Hopkins, Minn., native has a .340 batting average and started all 51 games in center field. Her .728 slugging percentage paces the team and she currently is on a 15-game streak of reaching base safely.
Dowell has started every game in 2022 at shortstop and quickly became a fan favorite thanks to her dazzling defense for Minnesota landing on the all-region team. Hailing from Suwanee, Ga., she helped the Gophers turn 11 double plays and recorded a .974 fielding percentage in more than 150 chances in the field. Offensively, she is tied for the team lead earning 31 free bases on her way to a .394 on-base percentage and also struck for a .261 batting average with 11 extra-base hits.
Espalin picked up all-region accolades by leading Minnesota with a .349 batting average and played all 51 games, primarily as the designated player. She tied a school record with seven RBI at Rutgers hitting a grand slam and a three-run home run in consecutive at-bats. The San Dimas, Calif., product put together a team-high 18 games with multiple hits, including a 4-for-4 effort against Nicholls. The graduate senior has done it all for the Gophers tallying 11 doubles and hit six home runs, while adding 37 runs scored, 24 RBI and 25 walks.
Evans, an All-Big Ten Conference Second Team selection this season, paces the Gophers driving in 44 runs in 51 starts in the outfield earning the first all-region honor of her career. The Seymour, Wis., has posted four RBI in four different contests and reached base safely in 40 of 51 games aided by 25 walks. The sophomore has crossed home plate 32 times and is tied for the team lead hitting 11 doubles and one triple totaling a .329 batting average.
The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first, second and third-team selections. NFCA member head coaches from each respective region nominated student-athletes and voted for the teams. All awarded student-athletes now become eligible for the 2022 NFCA Division I All-America squads.
Up Next
The Gophers get set to battle the Aggies of Texas A&M Friday afternoon in the opening game of the 2022 NCAA Norman Regional. Tune in live on ESPN2 for first pitch at 4 p.m.
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