FIVE TIGERS EARN ALL-CONFERENCE RECOGNITION FROM CCAC

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University softball team had five players earn all-conference honors as the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) announced its postseason softball awards Tuesday afternoon.

Mallory O'Connor repeated on the CCAC's first team and was joined by Margaret Landis, who also earned the Gold Glove award for the center fielder position. Carissa Bombardiere and Gwen Bender were selected to the all-CCAC second team while Allie Timm was named the Gold Glove winner for the pitcher position.

O'Connor, who was named the CCAC Freshman of the Year a season ago, earned a second consecutive selection to the conference's first team. O'Connor ranked among the top eight players in no fewer than six categories offensively, led by her .453 on-base percentage which rated as the fourth-best OBP in the conference. The Bourbonnais, Ill., native also placed seventh in walks drawn (18) and eighth in batting average (.373), RBIs (28) and doubles (9).

After earning second-team honors a year ago, Landis made the jump to the CCAC's first team this season. The senior outfielder from Beecher, Ill., led the Tigers with her .380 batting average, which also ranked sixth in the conference, in hits with 46 and stolen bases with eight. As one of ONU's most productive bats, Landis was second on the team in runs scored (24), RBIs (15), and on-base percentage (.429) while ranking third in slugging percentage (.479) and doubles (8).

Landis was also recognized for her play in the field, earning the coveted Gold Glove award for the pivotal center fielder position. She recorded 77 putouts against just one error for a sparkling .988 fielding percentage. Landis also earned credit for two assists and turned two double plays from center field.

Bombardiere earned her first recognition from the conference this season, landing on the all-CCAC second team after recording a .351 batting average, .378 on-base percentage, and a .412 slugging percentage, all top-five marks for the Tigers. The senior Geneva, Ill., native also drove in 12 RBIs, scored 22 runs of her own, roped five doubles and stole five bases while recording 57 putouts as a corner outfielder.

Bender, who also received her first nod from the conference this year, was named to the all-CCAC second team after hitting a .271 batting average on the season. She also reached base at .357 clip and finished the season with 26 hits, including three doubles and 13 runs batted in. Splitting time between middle infield and catching duties, the sophomore from Decatur, Ill., recorded the second-most putouts for the Tigers with 113 with just three errors for a .979 fielding percentage. She rolled three double plays and caught seven runners stealing.

Timm was named the conference's best fielding pitcher, earning the Gold Glove award for the pitching position from the CCAC. The junior right-hander from Channahon, Ill., recorded nine putouts in the circle while assisting on 20 more. She also turned a pair of double plays and caught five opponents stealing.

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu