[Softball] Vest Named KCAC Softball Newcomer of the Year; Seven Falcons Selected to ...

WICHITA, Kan. – Friends University junior Breanna Vest (JR/Fayettevile, Ark. ) has been selected as the KCAC Newcomer of the Year, the league announced today (May 2). Overall, seven Falcons were named to the All-KCAC squad and Renee Downey (SO/Modesto, Calif.) earned a conference Gold Glove award after posting a .954 fielding percentage at third base.

Vest and Kaelyn Smith (SR/Tuscon, Ariz.) were first-team picks, with Maci Walker (SR/Mansfield, Texas), Kylie Fox (JR/Wichita, Kan. ) and Shelby Belloni (JR/Lakewood, Colo. ) earning a second-team nod. Kennedy Brunson (SR/Garden City, Kan.) and Isabella Gonzalez (JR/Bakersfield, Calif.) were honorable-mention honorees.

"It's great these players are rewarded for their accomplishments," Friends head coach Tony Segovia said.

"They have worked hard throughout this year! They understand this is a team game and they want to continue their success throughout the postseason!"

A Fayetteville, Ark. native, Vest made an immediate impact for the Falcons in her first season with the program.

Vest batted a team-high .415 and led the team with seven homers, including a career-high three blasts to power a 12-0 win at Langston (3/6/18). She also posted team-high numbers in RBIs (45) and slugging percentage (.729) while ranking within the top five of the KCAC in all these categories.

Smith ranked second, right behind Vest in batting average (.388), home runs (four), RBIs (38) and slugging percentage (.589).  She also smacked a team-high 14 doubles on the season and was tied for second on the team with 50 hits.

Walker served as the rotation anchor this season, pacing the staff and ranking fourth in the KCAC with 13 wins on the season. Her 3.30 earned-run-average is also first on the team as are her 65 strikeouts, nine complete games and 133 2/3 innings in the circle.

Her battery mate, Fox, made a significant impact behind and at the plate in her debut season at Friends.

Fox led the team in on-base-percentage (.486) and tied for the team-lead in hits (54), while ranking second in runs (37) and third in batting average (.383), RBIs (31) and slugging percentage (.525).

Also competing in her first season with the Falcons, Belloni contributed in a big way, hitting .341 along with a pair of homers and 25 RBIs. She also posted a solid slugging (.459) and on-base-percentage (.414).

Brunson hit .323 and utilized her speed to record a perfect 14-of-14 stolen bases, while Gonzalez hit a robust .348 and scored a team-best 44 runs along with tying for the team-lead with 54 hits from the leadoff spot.

The Falcons are currently competing in the KCAC postseason tournament, where they opened up with a convincing 11-1 victory over the University of Saint Mary earlier today.