Olivet College's Grubb and Nielsen named All-MIAA for softball

OLIVET, Mich. – Olivet College freshman pitcher/designated player Ashlynn Grubb (LaGrange, Ind./Lakeland) and senior outfielder Alyssa Nielsen (Greenville) have been named to the 2014 All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) softball teams. Grubb earned first-team honors, while Nielsen is a second-team selection. All-conference honors are based on a player's statistics during the 16-game MIAA schedule.

Under the direction of 10th-year Head Coach James Farnum, Olivet posted a 26-11 overall record and were third in the MIAA standings with a 10-6 record. The 26 victories broke the single-season record.

"This was a great season for Olivet College softball," said Farnum. "I give the credit to our players and my assistant coaches (Jamey Lobdell and Allison Miller). With so many new faces this year, it was important that the players commit to working together to be the best team we could be. My assistants did a great job of teaching and mentoring our players. This season definitely laid the foundation for future successful seasons."

Grubb started all 16 games for the Comets, with 14 starts in the circle and the other two as the designated player. At the plate, she recorded a .353 batting average to go along with six doubles and a triple for a .510 slugging percentage. Grubb scored nine runs and drove in 11 runs. In the circle, she had a 9-5 record with a 2.14 ERA in 88 and one-third innings. Grubb, the only freshman to first-team All-MIAA honors, struck out 69 and walked only 12 batters. Defensively, she did not comitt an error in 26 chances.

At the plate for the entire season, Grubb was third on the team with a .373 batting average, but led the team in hits (41), doubles (12) and RBI (32). She also ranked among the team leaders in at-bats (110), runs scored (29), total bases (60), slugging percentage (.545). In the circle, Grubb had a 17-8 record with 1.55 ERA, while striking out 167 and walking 25 batters in 162 and two-thirds innings. The 17 wins are a single-season school record, while her 32 RBI are the second-most for a season.

"Ashlynn's award is well deserved," commented Farnum. "She was asked to put the team on her back during the majority of the MIAA season and she came through for us. Ashlynn established herself as someone to be reckoned with in the MIAA for the next three years."

Nielsen had a .400 batting average, while scoring eight runs and collecting six RBI in league play. For the entire 37-game schedule, she led Olivet with a .408 batting average, .612 slugging percentage and a single-season school-record seven triples. Nielsen also shared for the team lead with 60 total bases. She started 32-of-34 games played and also had 21 runs scored, 20 RBI and six doubles.

"Alyssa had a fantastic year for us," stated Farnum. "We really did not know what to expect from her this year. Alyssa had missed basically all of last season due to injuries and was still in the process of rehabbing from them. I think her first at-bat of the season when she came through with a pinch-hit triple really set the tone for her all year."