Kylee Hanson Repeats as C-USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year; Owls Picked First in the League As Well

Jan. 18, 2017

BOCA RATON, Fla. - For the second season in a row, Florida Atlantic University senior softball pitcher Kylee Hanson has been named Conference USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year, as announced by the C-USA office on Wednesday.

As a team, the Owls also were picked by league coaches to repeat as C-USA champions. FAU received 10 of a possible 12 first place votes, and five members (including Hanson) made the Preseason All-Conference Team, the most of any squad in the league.

Hanson ended the 2016 season with a nation-best ERA of 0.76 while tallying a 28-5 record. In addition to being named C-USA Pitcher of the Year at the end of last season, the Jupiter, Florida native also earned C-USA Female Athlete of the Year and NFCA All-American honors.

Fellow senior Amanda Wilson joined Hanson as two of just three pitchers named to the Preseason All-Conference Team. Wilson went 16-4 in the circle last season with a 1.69 ERA and was a C-USA First Team member following the year.

Junior shortstop Emily Lochten, junior catcher Alex Miller and sophomore outfielder Madisyn Palmer round out FAU's All-Conference selections. Lochten batted .342 on the season with a team-best 14 home runs and added 46 RBI. She also had team highs in slugging percentage (.665) and walks (63). In conference play, she hit .394 with a .682 slugging percentage and a .500 on-base percentage, and was another postseason 2016 C-USA First Team selection.

Miller hit .274 as a sophomore with 14 RBI. However, her biggest contribution came behind the plate, where she called the pitches for a staff that finished the season third in the nation in collective ERA at 1.14. Palmer won C-USA Freshman of the Year last season and was a First Team All-Conference member after leading the Owls in on-base percentage (.481) and stolen bases (26). She hit .490 against C-USA opponents.

The Owls open up the season at home against North Florida on Thursday, Feb. 9 as part of the FAU Kick-Off Classic. For tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visit FAUSports.com.

Here is the full list of preseason C-USA accolades:

Predicted Order of Finish

Florida Atlantic (10)
UAB
Marshall (1)
Louisiana Tech
Southern Miss
FIU
UTEP
UTSA
Charlotte
WKU
Middle Tennessee
North Texas

2017 Preseason Player of the Year

Morgan Zerkle, Marshall, Sr.

2017 Preseason Pitcher of the Year

Kylee Hanson, Florida Atlantic, Sr.

2017 Preseason All-Conference Team

Pitcher: Kylee Hanson, Florida Atlantic, Sr.

Pitcher: Amanda Wilson, Florida Atlantic, Sr.

Pitcher: Jordan Dixon, Marshall, Sr.

Catcher: Taylor McCord, Marshall, Jr.

Catcher: Alex Miller, Florida Atlantic, Jr.

Infielder: Stephanie Texeira, FIU, Sr.

Infielder: Morgan Zerkle, Marshall, Sr.

Infielder: Kelli Schkade, North Texas, Sr.

Infielder: Emily Lochten, Florida Atlantic, Jr.

Infielder: Courtney Clayton, UTEP, Jr.

Outfielder: Madisyn Palmer, Florida Atlantic, So.

Outfielder: Shaelynn Braxton, Marshall, Sr.

Outfielder: Precious Birdsong, Middle Tennessee, Jr.

Outfielder: Joanna Fallen, UAB, Sr.

DP/Utility: Kaitlyn Ryder, UTEP, Jr.

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