All-Conference Honorees
ORONO, Maine -- Seven members of the University of Maine softball team were honored with postseason accolades at Wednesday evening's America East Postseason Awards Banquet. Highlighting the group were Alexis Bogdanovich(South Portland, Maine) and head coach Lynn Coutts who were named America East Pitcher of the Year and America East Coach of the Year, respectively.
Bogdanovich also received All-Conference First Team honors and a spot on the league's All-Academic team. Senior's Nikki Byron (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.), Kristen Koslosky (Castro Valley, Calif.) and EmJ Fogel (Vienna, Va.) and sophomore Felicia Lennon (Brookfield, Conn.) each received a spot on the league's All-Conference Second Team. Freshman outfielder Erica Leonard (Rocky Hill, Conn.) was named to the America East All-Rookie team.
Bogdanovich, a five-time America East Pitcher of the Week honoree, finished the year 14-7 and led the league with 175 strikeouts and a slim 1.54 ERA. Maine's senior pitcher walked only 12 hitters over 132.0 innings with 19 starts and 26 appearances, while her 0.60 walks per seven innings ranks her second in the nation. Bogdanovich fanned 10+ hitters on seven occasions, six of those coming against league opponents, with a career-high 16 strikeout victory coming over Syracuse. Bogdanovich is just the third pitcher in Maine history to be named the America East Pitcher of the Year and the first since Jenna Merchant received the honor in 2004. Bogdanovich's 3.45 grade-point average in Food Science and Nutrition also earned her a nod to the America East All-Academic team.
Coutts has guided the Black Bears back to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Two years after winning just eight games, Coutts has led Maine to its first 20+ win season since 2009-10. With her emphasis on the pitching staff, Coutts has mentored Maine to a conference low 2.61 ERA and a league-leading 255 strikeouts. Coutts receives the sixth America East Coach of the Year in Maine history and the first since 2006.
Fogel, a senior outfielder, receives her fourth America East Second Team selection. Fogel hit .323 on the year, leading the Black Bears in RBI (27) and ranking fourth in the league with 11 doubles. Fogel recorded 40 hits on the year, including her first career home run on Senior Day, to go along with 15 runs and two triples. Fogel led the Black Bears with eight multi-RBI games while adding 10 multi-hit games.
Byron, a senior first baseman, receives her first All-Conference honor after hitting .316, recording 30 hits with 14 RBI, nine runs scored and three home runs. Byron heated up in league play, batting .346 (18-for-52) with seven RBI, three runs and a pair of doubles with a .404 on-base percentage.
Koslosky, a senior second baseman, hit .278 on the year with 20 hits, 15 runs and three RBI. Koslosky led the team in walks (24), helping to propel her to a team-high .458 on-base percentage. In league action, Koslosky led the team with a .357 mark (10-for-28) with seven runs, two RBI, 12 walks and a .550 on-base mark. Koslosky's .357 mark against America East foes was 12th best in the league while her on-base percentage and walks in conference action both ranked in the top five.
Lennon, a sophomore shortstop, ranked second on the team with a .320 mark at the plate. Lennon led the team in hits (41) and runs scored (26) while adding 21 RBI, six doubles, four home runs and 15 stolen bases. Lennon's 13 multi-hit games were a team-high along with her eight-game hit streak (3/7-3/13).
Leonard had a stellar rookie season, batting .289 with 35 hits, four home runs, 19 RBI, 21 runs and 15 walks. Leonard, an America East Player and Rookie of the Week honoree, ranked fifth in the league with 17 stolen bases.
Maine opens America East Postseason action on Thursday, May 7 when it meets Stony Brook at 1 p.m.
The University of Maine is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2015. In conjunction with this, the athletic department will celebrate 150 student-athletes achievements over the next year.
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