RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University softball’s Paige Murphy has been named the first All-American in program history, collecting third team honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and College Sports Madness.
The senior posted eye-popping numbers all season, boasting a .443 batting average while racking up 67 runs, 82 hits and 40 hits for extra bases. Murphy is the lone player in the country with 20-plus home runs and 20-plus stolen bases.
The Louisville, Kentucky native gained notice all season, collecting five Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors, was named OVC Player of the Year and OVC Female Athlete of the Year.
Murphy led her team to a 45-win season, a new program high and a National Invitational Softball Championship Regional Championship.
She propelled EKU to a 19-3 mark in league action and led the conference in batting average, hits, home runs-per-game (.33), home runs (22), on-base percentage (.567), runs-per-game (1.02), slugging percentage (.903) and total bases (167).
Murphy iced her standout season by breaking 15 EKU softball records: single-game runs scored (5), single-season batting average, single-season slugging percentage, single-season on-base percentage, single-season runs scored, single-season home runs, single-season RBIs (61), single-season total bases, single-season walks (41), career batting average (.398), career slugging percentage (.650), career on-base percentage (.508), career runs scored (173), career hits (240) and career walks (112).
Murphy is in elite company, joining athletes from programs such as the University of Oregon, Florida State University, the University of Michigan and the University of Washington.
