TEMPE, Ariz. -- Six Arizona State softball players have earned a place on the All-Conference Teams announced by the league office Wednesday morning.
Senior Morgan Howe and junior Kindra Hackbarth led the way for ASU, both earning first team honors, while junior Maddi Hackbarth recieved a second team nod. Shortstop Jade Gortarez and outfielder Skylar McCarty both received Third-Team recognition, while newcomer Yannira Acuna was honored on the All-Freshman team.
Howe, a versatile outfielder, has enjoyed an incredible senior season in 2019. The Poway, Calif., native has hit at a .417 clip, a mark that leads the Sun Devils and checks in as third best in the Pac-12. The senior has carded career highs in numerous offensive categories this season, including runs scored, doubles, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage and stolen bases. Her first team recognition is the first of her career in the Pac-12, and is the second straight league honor after being named to the Second Team last season.
K. Hackbarth has also been a force to be reckoned with at the plate this season. The junior outfielder has played and started in every game in 2019, leading the squad with 62 hits on the season. Her .404 batting average ranks second on the team, and fourth in the conference. Through 48 games, Hackbarth has turned in 19 multi-hit outings, including seven games with three or more hits. Her .795 slugging percentage leads the team this season.
M. Hackbarth, the Sun Devils' lone Second Team honoree, has emerged as one of the Pac-12's most dangerous power hitters. Playing and starting every game behind the plate for the Sun Devils, Maddi has combined to hit 17 home runs, a mark that ranks ninth from and ASU player in a single season. While her power certainly dazzled fans this season, her defensive prowess has also been an important part of her game in 2019. Of the 19 base runners who attempted to steal a base this season, 12 were thrown out, while two others were picked off at first, all culminating in her selection to the All-Pac-12 Defensive Team.
McCarty, a senior outfielder from Peoria, earned a Third Team nod in a season that has seen her bat at a career-high .340 clip. Her 43 runs on 49 hits stand as career highs, as does her 15 extra-base hits, 14 walks and .528 slugging percentage in 2019. Through the heart of the season, McCarty put together a stretch of 13 games that saw the speedy left fielder record a hit, a mark that ties as the longest such streak in 2019.
Gortarez, who joined McCarty on the Third Team, has also had a season to remember. The Riverside, Calif., native has also started in every game this season where she has posted a career-high .312 batting average. Her 13 doubles on the season, coupled with her three home runs, has led the shortstop to an impressive .488 slugging percentage, which also stands as a career-high.
Rounding out the All-Conference honors, Acuna has been a very welcome addition to the Sun Devil squad this season. The Tucson native has shown her power at the plate as well this year, roping eight extra-base hits including a pair of home runs in 2019. She has also hit a grand slam in her first season of collegiate softball, coming through in a huge spot for the Sun Devils in a pinch hit situation during the series sweep of Stanford.
Arizona State will complete the 2019 regular season this weekend with a three-game road series at Oregon. First pitch in the series against the Ducks is set for 5:00 p.m. Friday, and will be televised on Pac-12 Arizona. Fans can follow all of the action from the final weekend of the regular-season, as well as postseason action, by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
Senior Morgan Howe and junior Kindra Hackbarth led the way for ASU, both earning first team honors, while junior Maddi Hackbarth recieved a second team nod. Shortstop Jade Gortarez and outfielder Skylar McCarty both received Third-Team recognition, while newcomer Yannira Acuna was honored on the All-Freshman team.
Howe, a versatile outfielder, has enjoyed an incredible senior season in 2019. The Poway, Calif., native has hit at a .417 clip, a mark that leads the Sun Devils and checks in as third best in the Pac-12. The senior has carded career highs in numerous offensive categories this season, including runs scored, doubles, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage and stolen bases. Her first team recognition is the first of her career in the Pac-12, and is the second straight league honor after being named to the Second Team last season.
K. Hackbarth has also been a force to be reckoned with at the plate this season. The junior outfielder has played and started in every game in 2019, leading the squad with 62 hits on the season. Her .404 batting average ranks second on the team, and fourth in the conference. Through 48 games, Hackbarth has turned in 19 multi-hit outings, including seven games with three or more hits. Her .795 slugging percentage leads the team this season.
M. Hackbarth, the Sun Devils' lone Second Team honoree, has emerged as one of the Pac-12's most dangerous power hitters. Playing and starting every game behind the plate for the Sun Devils, Maddi has combined to hit 17 home runs, a mark that ranks ninth from and ASU player in a single season. While her power certainly dazzled fans this season, her defensive prowess has also been an important part of her game in 2019. Of the 19 base runners who attempted to steal a base this season, 12 were thrown out, while two others were picked off at first, all culminating in her selection to the All-Pac-12 Defensive Team.
McCarty, a senior outfielder from Peoria, earned a Third Team nod in a season that has seen her bat at a career-high .340 clip. Her 43 runs on 49 hits stand as career highs, as does her 15 extra-base hits, 14 walks and .528 slugging percentage in 2019. Through the heart of the season, McCarty put together a stretch of 13 games that saw the speedy left fielder record a hit, a mark that ties as the longest such streak in 2019.
Gortarez, who joined McCarty on the Third Team, has also had a season to remember. The Riverside, Calif., native has also started in every game this season where she has posted a career-high .312 batting average. Her 13 doubles on the season, coupled with her three home runs, has led the shortstop to an impressive .488 slugging percentage, which also stands as a career-high.
Rounding out the All-Conference honors, Acuna has been a very welcome addition to the Sun Devil squad this season. The Tucson native has shown her power at the plate as well this year, roping eight extra-base hits including a pair of home runs in 2019. She has also hit a grand slam in her first season of collegiate softball, coming through in a huge spot for the Sun Devils in a pinch hit situation during the series sweep of Stanford.
Arizona State will complete the 2019 regular season this weekend with a three-game road series at Oregon. First pitch in the series against the Ducks is set for 5:00 p.m. Friday, and will be televised on Pac-12 Arizona. Fans can follow all of the action from the final weekend of the regular-season, as well as postseason action, by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.