Photo by: Apeiro Sports Photo
Ricard Tabbed NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year Top 25 Finalist
April 28, 2023 | Softball
BOSTON – A five-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Week, Boston University softball freshman Kasey Ricard was named a 2023 Tucci/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 finalist by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Friday afternoon.
This year's finalists hail from 23 different universities and represent 11 NCAA Division I conferences from across the nation with Ricard becoming the first Terrier and Patriot League member to earn recognition.
The Littleton, Massachusetts, native has been electric for the Terriers in the circle so far this season, posting a 17-2 record with 172 strikeouts in 128.0 innings of work and a 1.64 ERA. She has held opponents to a .170 batting average in 33 appearances, earning seven shutouts and four saves.
In her marquee performance, she recorded 10 strikeouts against one walk while allowing just six hits to shut out then-No. 12 Baylor, 2-0. She also held 2022 NCAA regional participant South Florida to three hits in an 8-0 (5) victory and tallied nine strikeouts in a one-hit shutout against another NCAA squad, Georgia Tech (2-0).
As of April 28, Ricard ranks ninth nationally and tops among freshmen in shutouts while also leading all rookies in victories (19th overall). She's also second among freshman in strikeouts and third in ERA for those who have pitched at least 100 innings.
On May 11, the list will be trimmed to the top 10 and the three finalists will be released on May 25. The 2023 TUCCI/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year will be announced on May 30. All of the lists along with the winner are voted on by the NFCA Division I All-America Committee. If a nominated student-athlete did not make the top 25, they can still be in consideration for the top 10.
The TUCCI/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created in 2014 to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their member head coach and in their first year of NCAA Division I collegiate competition as a true freshman or redshirt freshman.
Ricard and the Terriers will next host Army West Point on Friday in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.
This year's finalists hail from 23 different universities and represent 11 NCAA Division I conferences from across the nation with Ricard becoming the first Terrier and Patriot League member to earn recognition.
The Littleton, Massachusetts, native has been electric for the Terriers in the circle so far this season, posting a 17-2 record with 172 strikeouts in 128.0 innings of work and a 1.64 ERA. She has held opponents to a .170 batting average in 33 appearances, earning seven shutouts and four saves.
In her marquee performance, she recorded 10 strikeouts against one walk while allowing just six hits to shut out then-No. 12 Baylor, 2-0. She also held 2022 NCAA regional participant South Florida to three hits in an 8-0 (5) victory and tallied nine strikeouts in a one-hit shutout against another NCAA squad, Georgia Tech (2-0).
As of April 28, Ricard ranks ninth nationally and tops among freshmen in shutouts while also leading all rookies in victories (19th overall). She's also second among freshman in strikeouts and third in ERA for those who have pitched at least 100 innings.
On May 11, the list will be trimmed to the top 10 and the three finalists will be released on May 25. The 2023 TUCCI/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year will be announced on May 30. All of the lists along with the winner are voted on by the NFCA Division I All-America Committee. If a nominated student-athlete did not make the top 25, they can still be in consideration for the top 10.
The TUCCI/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created in 2014 to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their member head coach and in their first year of NCAA Division I collegiate competition as a true freshman or redshirt freshman.
Ricard and the Terriers will next host Army West Point on Friday in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.
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