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LSUE’s Tate & Howell named All-Americans

Posted at 3:30 PM, Jun 06, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-06 16:30:40-04

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Press Release) – LSU Eunice’s Jensen Howell and Sara Tate have been named NJCAA Division II All-Americans by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), the organization announced on Thursday. The Bengal duo make it 21 LSUE standouts to receive All-American recognition in the program’s history.

“Anytime you can put ‘All-American’ next to someone’s name, you know that they had a special season,” LSU Eunice head coach Andy Lee said. “Jensen and Sara were two key members of this year’s National Championship team and I could not be more proud of them.”

The duo was recently named NFCA All-South Region First-Team members and are also on the NJCAA All-Region 23 squad. Howell and Tate were instrumental in the Bengals capturing their 6th NJCAA Division II National Championship by going undefeated in postseason play (8-0) for the first time in school history.

Howell capped off a prolific first season in Eunice as the NJCAA Division II National Tournament Most Outstanding Pitcher. The sophomore shined in postseason, posting a 4-0 record with one save that included a 0.23 earned run average. For the season, Howell was 22-3 with a 1.03 ERA, tops nationally, including 173 strikeouts and a .183 batters against average.

The Alexandria, La. native also tossed the school’s first no-hitter in four years during a 15-1 victory over Baton Rouge CC on April 17. Howell tossed 12 complete games during the season while posting three double-digit strikeout performances including a season-high 13 on April 14 against BRCC. The Louisiana Tech transfer also hit at a .321 clip, driving in 33 RBIs and 3 home runs. She earned NJCAA Pitcher of the Week honors once during the season on February 4-10.

Howell is the 12th Bengal in program history to earn first-team All-American honors by the NFCA.

Sara Tate was a sparkplug for the Bengals, serving as the lead-off batter. Tate stole a team-high 47 bases which ranked fifth nationally and her five triples were ranked 21st. The Pine Prairie native led LSUE with a .353 average and was also tops in hits (60), runs (64) and at-bats (170). The UT-Tyler commitment also tallied 11 doubles, 8 home runs and 47 RBIs.

The speedster had 12 multi-stolen base games including three on three separate occasions.

2019 NFCA NJCAA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
FIRST TEAM

Pitcher Brianna Hardy Phoenix College
Pitcher Jensen Howell LSU Eunice
Pitcher Josie Swafford Des Moines Area Community College
Catcher Lizzy Van Manen Northeast Mississippi Community College
Catcher Kelsey Peedin Pitt Community College
Infield Mia Ruther Des Moines Area Community College
Infield London Jackson Kirkwood Community College
Infield LP Trammell Jones College
Infield Haley Johnston Phoenix College
Infield Haleigh Joyner Louisburg College
Outfield Ashton Friend Cowley College
Outfield Katlyn Lloyd County College of Morris
Outfield Cheyenne Andersen Iowa Central Community College
Outfield Shelby Hulsebus Kirkwood Community College
DP Ally Pickering Des Moines Area Community College
Utility Shelby Martin Dawson Community College

SECOND TEAM
Pitcher Olivia Burns Itawamba Community College
Pitcher Erin Hocker Kirkwood Community College
Pitcher Mary Anna Clement Louisburg College
Catcher Samantha Conley Itawamba Community College
Catcher Alyssa Borozan County College of Morris
Infield McKennah Sikes Jones College
Infield Sarah Hilton Louisburg College
Infield Mattie Meine Itawamba Community College
Infield Sophia Cave Iowa Central Community College
Infield Kaci Sherwood North Iowa Area Community College
Outfield Mason Hedgecock Louisburg College
Outfield Sara Tate LSU Eunice
Outfield Morgan Lewis Des Moines Area Community College
Outfield MacKenzie Whitten Phoenix College
DP Colleen Cwalina Lackawanna College
UT Emily McGee Pitt Community College