Posted: Apr 26, 2013

Five Seahawks earn all-conference accolades

(Left to right) Lauren Nicholson, Jillian Quintana, Jen Cruver, Ali Muehlbronner, and Sara Nelson will lead the fifth-seeded Seahawks into the 2013 CCC Softball Championships starting on Saturday against Gordon College.

NEWPORT, R.I. - After finishing fifth in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) regular season, Salve Regina University softball placed five of its players on the all-conference teams. Seniors Jen Cruver (North Haven, Conn.), Ali Muehlbronner (Glenside, Pa.), and Jillian Quintana (Denver, Colo.) along with junior Sara Nelson (Bristol, Conn.) and sophomore Lauren Nicholson (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) represent the Seahawks on the all-league team as announced by commissioner Gregg Kaye.

Salve Regina (21-17; 11-7 CCC) hosts Gordon (13-22; 4-14 CCC) in first-round, single-elimination playoff action at Toppa Field on Saturday (1 p.m.).

Cruver and Nelson both earned second team selections at pitcher and outfielder, respectively. Cruver's pitching record at the start of the postseason is 21-15 with league-bests in complete games (29), innings pitched (222.1), games started (37), and wins (21). During the regular season she was twice recognized with the league's Pitcher of the Week honor and also garnered an ECAC Pitcher of the Week award.

Cruver's bat often helped her to pitching victories. With a .301 batting average, she's tied for second on the Seahawks with 23 runs batted in.

Nelson also has 23 RBI and a team-leading .385 batting average (ranks sixth in the league). She slugged two homeruns and has collected a team-best nine doubles.

Muehlbronner, Nicholson, and Quintana each earned honorable mention nods. Starting shortstop and leadoff hitter, Muehlbronner has played in all 38 games and carries a .378 batting average. She and Kara Pepper of Gordon have the most triples in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (five). In the field, Muehlbronner consistently displays the athleticism of her ice hockey goalie position while often making spectacular diving grabs.

Quintana led the Seahawks in homeruns (five) and RBI (31 - ranks second in league) while batting .333 as the team's cleanup hitter. She raises her school-record career homerun total to 19. The versatile fielder provided glove work at both corners of the infield.

Designated hitter Nicholson carries a .338 batting average into the playoffs with five doubles and two homeruns. In a 6-0 win over Gordon last Friday, Nicholson contributed an RBI double down the left field line to score Nelson in the sixth inning.

"Ali, Jenn and Jo (Jillian) are veterans on this team and I couldn't be happier for them," head coach Kerri Scroope said. "They continue to prove that they are a force both offensively and defensively. I'm very excited for the playoffs to start and watch these three along with Megan (Jakiela) lead us through the playoffs. They have been to the championships last year and they have unfinished business before they leave the program."

"Sara and Lauren have grown into great hitters. These two have great stories. They both saw little playing time last year and fought their way into the lineup. They have become major hitters for our program and both have won us games. A coach loves to see kids work hard and earn their time and I couldn't be prouder."

The winner of Saturday's game travels to top-seeded Endicott College on Monday for a 2:30 p.m. game with fourth-seeded University of New England as the championships enter the double-elimination rounds.