Patriot League release

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Boosted by an incredible finish to the regular season, Boston University softball senior Melanie Russell was named the Patriot League Pitcher of Year and joined by five other Terriers in receiving All-Conference honors, the league office announced Tuesday morning.

Earning BU's 12th-ever Pitcher of the Year Award and first since 2011, Russell was named to the first team for the second time in three years. Junior infielder Brittany Younan, junior outfielder Emma Wong and sophomore outfielder Jilee Schanda also received All-PL First Team accolades, while both freshman catcher Alex Heinen and junior outfielder Moriah Connolly were placed on the second team.

The Terriers are guided by first-year head coach Ashley Waters and will be entering this week's Patriot League tournament as the No. 3 seed with a 25-22 (11-6 PL) record after being left out last season at 17-27 (7-11 PL). Following their turnaround, the Terriers had the most players named to the first team and were one behind top-seed Lehigh at six total All-PL honors.

Through the first 26 games of the year, Russell (11-9, 2.16 ERA) was sitting at 1-5 with a 4.55 ERA and 13 strikeouts against 26 walks in 27.2 innings of work. In the final month during conference play, the San Diego native found another gear and proved to be the top pitcher in the league with a 10-4 record, 1.42 ERA and most impressively 108 strikeouts against 19 walks in 89.0 innings pitched. This past weekend, she struck out 15 batters in just six innings at Colgate, marking the most in the Raiders' history and most by a Terrier since Ashlee Freeman had 18 in 16 innings in a 2005 contest. Twice named PL Pitcher of the Week, Russell was also named NFCA National Pitcher of the Week on April 26 after collecting four wins and a save by pitching 22.2 scoreless innings with 32 strikeouts and no walks.

The 2014 PL Rookie of the Year Younan earned her second All-PL honor after being placed on the second team her freshman season. A native of Chico, Calif., she was just one of two unanimous players to be named to the first team alongside Army West Point's Kasey McCravey. She currently ranks fourth in the conference in batting average at a team-high .382 while also leading BU in RBIs at 28 total. Highlighted by a 4-of-5 performance at Colgate, she recorded 18 multi-hit games and batted .409 in conference games.

Both natives of California, Schanda (Fresno) and Wong (Solana Beach) garnered two of the three outfield slots on the first team. Schanda received her first-ever award after a strong sophomore campaign in which she increased her .260 rookie batting average to .312 this season with five doubles, two triples, 17 RBIs and nine stolen bases. She has only struck out four times in 141 at-bats after recording 13 total in 123 at-bats last year. Wong now has two honors after being named to the first team for the first time this year. Currently third on the team in hitting at .319, she went on a tear during conference action, hitting .377 with three triples and 13 of her 24 total RBIs in just 17 games.

Now a two-time All-PL honoree, Connolly is second on the team and 10th overall in the PL in hitting at .341. A native of Dunedin, Fla., she is also second in the conference in stolen bases with 27 total. The rookie Heinen (San Clemente, Calif.) batted .274 while tallying a team-high nine doubles with two homers and 23 RBIs. She also served as Russell's primary catcher this year.

The Terriers will next open the PL tournament at top-seed Lehigh against No. 2 Army on Thursday (May 12) with first pitch slated for 2:30 p.m.

2016 Softball All-Patriot League and Major Awards
Player of the Year: Kasey McCravey, Army West Point, Sr.
Pitcher of the Year: Melanie Russell, Boston University, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year: Alexis Watanabe, Lehigh, Sr.
Rookie of the Year: Renee Poirier, Army West Point, Fr.
Coach of the Year: Michelle DePolo, Army West Point

First Team
1B - Meghan Kovac, Bucknell, So. 
2B - Alee Rashenskas, Army West Point, Jr.
3B - Kasey McCravey, Army West Point, Sr.*
SS - Brittany Younan, Boston University, Jr.*
C - Carolyn Wright, Lehigh, So.
DP - Vicky Lattanzio, Lehigh, Jr.
OF - Emma Wong, Boston University, So.
OF - Mackenzie Velasquez, Lehigh, Sr.
OF - Jilee Schanda, Boston University, So.
P - Melanie Russell, Boston University, Sr.
P - Amanda Fazio, Bucknell, Sr.
At-large - Kristen McPeek, Army West Point, So.
*Unanimous selection

Second Team
1B - Emily Gray, Army West Point, So.
2B - Alexis Watanabe, Lehigh, Sr.
3B - Morgan Decker, Lehigh, Sr.
SS - Brooke Wensel, Lafayette, Fr.
C - Alex Heinen, Boston University, Fr.
DP - Caroline Smith, Army West Point, Jr.
OF - Moriah Connolly, Boston University, Jr.
OF - Mariah Midyette, Bucknell, Sr.
OF -Katie Bushee, Colgate, So.
P - Christine Campbell, Lehigh, Jr.
P - Gennifer Durham, Holy Cross, Sr.
At-large - Katie Schultz, Lehigh, So.