Folden Named 2006 Conference USA Player of the Year

May 9, 2006

Marshall's All-Conference Selections since 1995
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TULSA, Okla. - Last season, Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif./Diamond Bar) took the Mid-American Conference by storm, claiming 2005 MAC Freshman of the Year honors. This season, Folden can stake her claim in another honor - 2006 Conference USA Player of the Year.

Folden, the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, is among six Marshall players highlighted on the All-Conference USA Team, which was released Wednesday by the conference office.

Folden, the C-USA regular season "Triple Crown" winner, finished with a .382 average, 18 home runs and 54 RBI. Her 18 home runs tied the Conference USA single-season mark, which was set in 2004 by USF's Holly Groves. Folden broke the Marshall single-season mark in March and is currently the school's all-time home run leader with 27 home runs.

Folden finished conference play with a .408 average, seven home runs and 23 RBI.

The accolade marks the fourth consecutive season a member of the Marshall Thundering Herd has received a specialty award. In 2003, current senior outfielder Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga./Harrison) was named MAC Freshman of the Year, while Randi Nielson was named Pitcher of the Year. Head coach Shonda Stanton was also named Coach of the Year.

In 2004, Sierra Davenport was named MAC Player of the Year. Last season, Folden earned the top freshman honor, while Stanton received her second coaching honor in three seasons.

Rounding out the Herd's first team selections are senior twin sisters Amanda and Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga./Harrison). Amanda Williams finished second on the team with a .352 average, seven home runs and 24 RBI. Williams' 24 doubles lead Conference USA and rank second in the nation. Her 16 doubles in conference play are a new C-USA record. She needs two more doubles to tie the C-USA single-season mark.

Amanda Williams is the first player in program history to be a first team All-Conference selection all four years at Marshall. She is one of three players to be named All-Conference all four years, joining sister Jessica and former teammate Sierra Davenport.

Jessica Williams is currently fourth on the team with a .327 average, 13 doubles and 15 RBI. Jessica finished conference play with a .368 average, eight doubles and eight RBI. Her .368 clip is second only to Folden in C-USA play.

Sophomore Samantha Rodriguez (Oakley, Calif./Freedom) and junior pitcher Abigail Harter (Monmouth, Ore./Santiam Christian) were the Herd's two second team honorees.

Rodriguez enjoyed a career year in 2006, batting .299 with six home runs and 31 RBI. Her sophomore season was highlighted by a pair of three-run, walk-off home runs that catapulted the Herd to victories. Rodriguez's six home runs are tied for third-most on the team.

Harter emerged as the Herd's go-to pitcher in Conference USA play, posting a 15-9 record with a 2.72 earned run average. After a disastrous 3-6 start, Harter finished the regular season with a 12-3 mark with a 2.14 ERA, while baffling C-USA opponents with a 9-4 record with a 2.05 ERA.

Newcomer Joscelyn Bitner (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team. Bitner is batting .236 with two doubles, a triple and four RBI. Bitner, who began the season with a .067 average, finished the regular season on a torrid pace, batting .423 in the final 10 games of the season. She became the first player this season to record four hits in a game, going 6-for-7 in a doubleheader at Memphis.

The Marshall Thundering Herd (31-22, 15-9 C-USA) begins its quest for the program's first-ever conference tournament title under head coach Shonda Stanton Thursday at the 2006 Conference USA Softball Championship. The Herd will await the winner of the championship's opening game between No. 3 Houston (38-21, 15-9 C-USA) and No. 6 Southern Miss (27-36, 11-13). The second round meeting will begin at approximately 5 p.m. (EDT) at the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex.

2006 All-Conference Teams
First TeamCatcher - Rachel Folden, MarshallInfielder - Jessica Valis, HoustonInfielder - Jessica Williams, MarshallInfielder - Katie Torres, TulsaInfielder - Holly Krzan, UABOutfielder - Amanda Williams, MarshallOutfielder - Jennifer Fox, Southern MissOutfielder - Lindsay Stanley, UABUtility - Sara Dyer, TulsaPitcher - Keli Harrell, East CarolinaPitcher - Angel Shamblin, Houston
Second TeamCatcher - Elaina Nordstrom, HoustonInfielder - Erin St. Ledger, East CarolinaInfielder - Bridgette McNulty, MemphisInfielder - Ashley Brenan, Southern MissInfielder - Kelly Lombard, UTEPOutfielder - Cara Stiles, MemphisOutfielder - Julie Shafer, TulsaOutfielder - Sarah Ramirez, UTEPUtility - Angel Shamblin, HoustonUtility - Samantha Rodriguez, MarshallUtility - Kayla Harris, UABPitcher - Abigail Harter, MarshallPitcher - Jennifer Nelson, UAB
All-Freshman TeamVanessa Moreno, East CarolinaElaina Nordstrom, HoustonJessica Valis, HoustonJoscelyn Bitner, MarshallKimmi Hayden, MemphisLeila Dolfo, MemphisLacey Gros, Southern MissJessica Barr, TulsaBrooke Smart, TulsaKayla Harris, UABAndrea Rogers, UABAmber Bennett, UTEP
Coach of the Year: Marla Townsend, UABMost Valuable Player: Rachel Folden, MarshallPitcher of the Year: Angel Shamblin, HoustonFreshman of the Year: Elaina Nordstrom, Houston

Marshall University Athletics

Folden Named 2006 Conference USA Player of the Year

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Players Mentioned

Joscelyn Bitner

Rachel Folden

Abigail Harter

Samantha Rodriguez

Amanda Williams

Jessica Williams

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