INDIANA, Pa. — IUP softball standouts Madison Pikula and Delaney Patella added another major accolade to their historic careers Friday, earning first-team All-Atlantic Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
The pair were two of just four PSAC players selected to the NFCA All-Atlantic Region first team and were the only teammates from the PSAC West to receive first-team recognition.
Combined, six PSAC players earned spots on either the first or second team.
Pikula turned in one of the best offensive seasons in program history during her senior campaign. The leadoff hitter batted .390 with a 1.009 OPS while leading the Crimson Hawks with 85 hits and 49 runs scored.
Her consistency at the plate and ability to spark the offense played a major role in IUP capturing the PSAC West regular-season championship.
Pikula also remained one of the top baserunners in the conference, stealing 15 bases while being caught only once all season.
Already one of the most accomplished players in program history entering the season, Pikula further cemented her legacy by becoming IUP's career leader in hits, triples and stolen bases.
Patella delivered one of the top power-hitting seasons in the Atlantic Region while anchoring the left side of the infield at third base.
The senior slugger broke IUP's career home run record after leading the Crimson Hawks with 11 long balls, marking the first double-digit home run season of her collegiate career.
Patella finished the year with a 1.316 OPS and a .763 slugging percentage while starting all 52 games for IUP.
Her offensive production helped power one of the top lineups in the PSAC as the Crimson Hawks finished the season with 38 wins, tying the program record set by the 2010 and 2011 teams.
The NFCA All-Region selections add to an already impressive postseason haul for both players after each earned first-team All-PSAC honors earlier this month.
