Roncin Tabbed Patriot League's First NFCA All-American
May 31, 2023 | Softball
With her placement on the third team as an at-large shortstop, the Toms River, New Jersey, native becomes both the program's first-ever infielder and the Patriot League's first representative to be nationally recognized. She's also the third overall NFCA All-American Terrier, joining BU Hall of Famers April Setterlund (2010 First Team Outfielder) and Audrey West (1996 Third Team Pitcher).
"Kayla has always been an All-American in our eyes," said eighth-year head coach Ashley Waters. "This recognition just solidifies it. She plays the game at an elite level and sets the standard for excellence in our program. Her ability to compete offensively is a gift. She is one of the best hitters I've ever seen. What she has done in back-to-back seasons is absolutely amazing. She is rewriting the record books, and it's a joy to have a front row seat to watch her greatness unfold. This is one of the proudest moments I've ever felt as a coach, to watch one of your players, who is humble, kind, a wonderful teammate, a brilliant student and an even better person be named alongside the best in the country. It's magnificent."
A combined 55 student-athletes from 33 institutions were named NFCA All-Americans with Roncin the lone Northeast representative. BU was just one of five non-Power 5 programs to be included and one of three alongside Louisiana Lafayette and Wichita State to reach the NCAA Regionals. Seeded third for the third time ever in their 12th overall postseason appearance, the Terriers finished with a program and conference record 52 wins against just 10 losses. With Roncin's help, they currently rank in the top 15 in nine NCAA statistical categories, including first in triples per game (0.56), second in shutouts (24), sixth in batting average (.327) and sixth in fielding percentage (.980).
At the individual level, Roncin ranks in the top 100 in eight categories, starting with a program and Patriot League record 92 hits for the No. 3 slot. She captured the unofficial PL triple crown by batting a conference-high .430 (No. 17) with a program record 55 RBIs (No. 26) and nine homers. The 55 RBIs are the most by a PL member since 1995 and second most overall, while her 140 total bases are a new record. Her 56 runs scored (t-No.17) are the second most in both BU and PL history. In the NCAA tournament, she sealed the Terriers' first-ever NCAA run-rule victory and the PL's first since 2009 over MEAC champion NC Central, 8-0 (6), with her fifth RBI sac fly (No. 29).
Starting all 62 contests, Roncin helped BU earn its first NFCA Top 25 ranking since 1996 by claiming victories over then-No. 12 Baylor, Penn State (2x), eventual NCAA Super Regional participant San Diego State, Big West champion Long Beach State and a pair of 2022 NCAA Regional squads in Georgia Tech and South Florida. Two notable performances involved her going a perfect 4-for-4 in run-rule road victories over later nationally-ranked Cal State Fullerton and ACC member Boston College. In the win over the Eagles, Roncin finished the Eagles off with a grand slam to post five RBIs, a season-best by a Terrier, on her way to becoming the first in both program and PL history to record 80+ hits in back-to-back seasons.
Audrey West was the first BU softball player to claim All-America accolades in 1996 during her senior season. That year, the Oceanside, California, native led the nation in strikeouts (351) and ERA (0.49) en route to becoming the program's first inductee into the BU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. At the time of her announcement, Setterlund ranked fifth in the nation in batting average (.482), sixth in on-base percentage (.579), eighth in slugging percentage (.861) and 10th in runs per game (1.11). The Torrance, California, native was also tabbed an Easton Sports All-American in both 2009 and 2011.
NFCA DIVISION I ALL-AMERICA HONORS
First Team
P - Ashley Rogers, Tennessee
P - Megan Faraimo, UCLA
P - Montana Fouts, Alabama
C - Terra McGowan, Oregon
1B - Baylee Klingler, Washington
2B - Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma
3B - Alyssa Brito, Oklahoma
SS - Skylar Wallace, Florida
OF - Kiki Milloy, Tennessee
OF - Jayda Coleman, Oklahoma
OF - Jayda Kearney, Georgia
UT/P - Valerie Cagle, Clemson
DP or UT/Non-P - Rylin Hedgecock, Arkansas
At-Large-SS - Sydney McKinney Wichita State
At-Large-SS - Maya Brady, UCLA
At-Large-P - Jordy Bahl, Oklahoma
At-Large-P - Maddie Penta, Auburn
At-Large-C - Kinzie Hansen, Oklahoma
Second Team
P - Kathryn Sandercock, Florida State
P - Kelly Maxwell, Oklahoma State
P - Alana Vawter, Stanford
C - Kayla Kowalik, Kentucky
1B - Shaylon Govan, Baylor
2B - Allee Bunker, Oregon
3B - Megan Grant, UCLA
SS - Erin Coffel, Kentucky
OF - Yannira Acuña, Arizona State
OF - D'Auna Jennings, Duke
OF - Alex Honnold, Missouri
UT/P - Taylor Roby, Louisville
DP or UT/Non-P - Karly Heath, Louisiana-Lafayette
At-Large-2B - Taryn Kern, Indiana
At-Large-1B - McKenna Gibson, Tennessee
At-Large-2B - Rachel Becker, Oklahoma State
At-Large-P - Autumn Pease, Minnesota
At-Large-P - Chenise Delce, Arkansas
Third Team
P - Lexi Kilfoyl, Oklahoma State
P - Sydney Berzon, LSU
P - Mariah Lopez, Utah
C - Taylor Krapf, Minnesota
C - Julia Cottrill, Texas A&M
1B - Jordan Woolery, UCLA
2B - Sydney Kuma, Georgia
3B - Makena Smith, Cal-Berkeley
SS - Billie Andrews, Nebraska
OF - Sami Reynolds, Washington
OF - Mihyia Davis, Louisiana-Lafayette
OF - Ashley Trierweiler, Santa Clara
UT/P - Brianna Copeland, Indiana
DP or UT/Non-P - Kayla Konwent, Wisconsin
At-Large-P - Ruby Meylan, Washington
At-Large-DP or UT/Non-P - Taylor Minnick, Indiana
At-Large-C - Autumn Owen, Marshall
At-Large-SS - Kiley Naomi, Oklahoma State
At-Large-SS - Kayla Roncin, Boston University
How special was @kaylaroncin's award? Of the 55 student-athletes honored by the @NFCAorg, she was the lone Northeast rep. The closest school? Duke at approx. 700 miles away in N.C. #BUSB was also just 1 of 5 non-Power 5 programs (28 total P5) to be listed. #GoBU #NCAASoftball https://t.co/E7OIuRjdLH
— BU Softball (@TerrierSoftball) May 31, 2023
How did 2x @PatriotLeague PotY @kaylaroncin earn @NFCAorg All-America honors?
— BU Softball (@TerrierSoftball) June 1, 2023
🥎 Ranks in top 💯 in 8️⃣ #NCAASoftball categories
🥎 BU & PL record 92 hits
🥎 BU record 55 RBIs, most in PL since 1995
🥎 2nd most runs (56) in BU & PL history #ProudToBU 🐾🔥
📹: @mattwoolverton pic.twitter.com/htDsGXSmVl
