LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Georgia Tech softball standouts Tricia Awald and Emma Kauf have both been named NFCA Southeast Second Team All-Region, as voted on by the region’s head coaches and announced by the NFCA on Friday.
Kauf receives her first career all-region recognition while Awald garners her third after being tabbed first team a season ago and third team as a sophomore. The duo is Georgia Tech’s first set of multiple honorees in a single season since both Hope Rush and Kelsi Weseman were also voted second team in 2012, the last time the Yellow Jackets appeared in an NCAA Regional. Both Awald and Kauf are back in the spotlight just a week removed from earning First Team All-ACC honors for the second consecutive season.
Awald tacks another regional recognition onto her career highlights as she’s already become the Yellow Jackets’ program leader in both career doubles (55) and career walks (167) this season. Along those lines, she’s also currently third in Georgia Tech history in walks through a single season (50). The Marietta, Ga., native has stacked up against the nation’s best at the dish to receive the recent honor, leading the country in walks per game (.94) while topping the conference and ranking third in the nation in on-base percentage (.579). Awald is also among the ACC’s top 10 in batting average (.401) and slugging percentage (.715) on the year, placing third in sixth in the conference’s categories, respectively. She leads the team in each of the aforementioned areas as well as home runs (9) and RBI (40). Over the course of the season, the esteemed first baseman has been a near guarantee to get on base as she’s reached in 49 of the Yellow Jackets’ 53 games.
Kauf picks up her first regional honor in the midst of a decorated season in her own right. The Lincoln, Neb., native has joined Awald in making program history this year as she’s currently second all-time in single-season doubles (24), which also fronts the ACC and is second in the NCAA. Kauf put together the best week in the conference earlier this season, earning ACC Player of the Week for a near flawless performance in the White and Gold’s series against NC State. Other notable numbers for the league’s top catcher include placing second in the conference in hits (68) while ranking third in the league in total bases (114), leading the squad in both.
Combining Awald’s honors in 2019 and 2021 with this season’s selections, Georgia Tech has been represented in the last three all-region teams the NFCA has announced for the Southeast region. Prior to Awald, no Yellow Jacket had appeared on an all-region team since 2013.
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