SAU Sports Information
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Less than a week after being named all-region players by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), SAU softball sluggers Maddie Dow, Brooke Goad, and Jill Roye have added a second all-region accolade to their resumes as all three were named to the 2017 Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) All-Central Region First-Team at the their respective positions.
The three first-team selections for SAU Softball paced the talented Central Region and was the second-most overall as well trailing only Central Oklahoma and Minnesota State’s four honorees. As first-team selections, Dow, Goad, and Roye will now appear on the national ballot with a chance at All-America recognition.
For Dow this is her fourth D2CCA All-Central honor and her first time as a first-team selection. Her previous three instances came at the designated player position and this year, she earned the recognition at first base.
A native of Bonham, Texas, Dow ended her illustrious career at SAU with a senior campaign for the record books. The GAC's Player of the Year, Dow is now at the top of 12 career records at SAU, and in her senior season, she added nine single-season records to her ledger.
The all-time leader at SAU in Batting Average (.363), On-Base Percentage (.522), Hits (244), Home Runs (74), RBIs (224), Walks (175) and Total Bases (502), Dow now ranks in the Top-20 all-time in Division II softball in Walks (2nd), Home Runs (4th), Total Bases (T-10th), and RBIs (T-20th).
A league-leader in the GAC this year in Batting Average (.423), Slugging Percentage (.899), On-Base Percentage (.598), Home Runs (22), Total Bases (151), Walks (54), and Hit-By-Pitch (24). Dow was recently named a Top-25 finalist for the NFCA Division II Player of the Year.
Currently Dow ranks in the Top-10 nationally in Home Runs (1st – 22), On-Base Percentage (2nd - .598), Walks (5th – 54), Slugging Percentage (5th - .899), and Total Bases (6th – 151).
Goad, a returning D2CCA All-American from last year has a chance to repeat that honor as she makes a consecutive appearance on the all-region first-team as an outfielder. A native of Waxahachie, Texas, Goad turned in another offensively-charged season as she hit .349 (61-for-175) with 68 runs scored,, 16 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, and 46 RBIs. Her 68 runs scored led the team and the GAC while also setting new single-season records for both. Named to the 2017 Schutt Sports/NFCA DII Player of Year Preseason Watch List prior to the start of the season, Goad currently ranks in the Top-10 in the GAC in eight (8) major offensive categories including Doubles (T1st – 16), Home Runs (2nd – 18) and Total Bases (2nd – 135).
In terms of national rankings, Goad currently ranks in the Top-10 in DII in Home Runs (6th – 18), Runs Per Game (8th – 1.17), and Walks (4th – 50).
Roye, the GAC’s Newcomer of the Year made her second all-region first-team at the designated hitter position as she capped a sensational offensive year. The McAlester, Okla. native finished the year hitting .360 (76-for-211) with 35 runs scored, nine doubles, 12 home runs, and 66 RBIs.
Her 76 hits on the season led the team and her 66 RBIs set a new single-season record. Additionally, her RBI total is also currently the seventh-most in DII.