Cowgirl Student Athlete of the Year

McNeese State phenom Erika Piancastelli has earned the Southland Conference’s Student Athlete of the Year for the second straight season, the league office announced Tuesday. 

In addition to leading the Cowgirls to a second consecutive SLC championship and NCAA Tournament appearance with .375 batting average, a. 681 slugging percentage and 13 home runs, Piancastelli also earned a 3.54 GPA in the classroom in her field of Health and Human Performances in her junior year. 

Joining Piancastelli on the first team was Tori Yanitor, who posted a 3.52 GPA while majoring in psychology while batting .279 and earning 40 RBI with a .984 fielding percentage in her senior season. 

Junior shortstop Hailey Drew and senior outfielder Taylor Schmidt, both criminal justice majors, also earned spots on the All-Academic second team. 

Drew earned a 3.37 ERA and batted .287 with 34 RBI while Schmidt posted a 3.58 GPA while batting .270 with a .500 slugging percentage.