Zearfoss, Turpin Selected to NFCA All-Region Teams
Juniors Lauren Zearfoss (pictured, left) and Taylor Turpin (pictured, right) were announced by the National Fastpitch Association as 2011 NFCA Division III All-Region selections. Zearfoss is the first Pirate to be named to the All-Region second team.
Zearfoss exploded on the mound in her first season with the Pirates. The left-hander led the team and was 10th in the nation with a .95 earned run average, setting a new record at Southwestern. She struckout 8.5 batters per game, 21st in the nation, and logged 17 wins while allowing just 4.4 hits per game, 15th in the nation.
In 25 appearances and 148 innings of work, Zearfoss recorded 21 complete games, nine shutouts (7th nationally) and allowed 93 hits and 37 runs, 20 earned, while striking out 180 and walking only 36. She held opponents to a .175 batting average on the year.
Throughout the season Zearfoss was named SCAC Pitcher-of-the-Week three times and was selected as the conference's Co-Pitcher-of-the-Year and Newcomer-of-the-Year while earning a spot on the SCAC First Team.
Turpin kept opponents off the base path from centerfield and wreaked havoc for opponents on the base path offensively. She led the team with a .381 batting average, starting all 44 contests this season for the Pirates. In 155 plate appearances in the leadoff spot she tallied 59 hits, four doubles, one triple and one homerun. Turpin led the team in stolen bases with 16, getting caught in the act just twice. She scored a team high 36 runs while driving in 12.
Turpin was selected to the All-SCAC Second Team and was picked to the SCAC All-Tournament Team after a strong performance at the SCAC Conference Tournament.
The Pirates closed out the regular season as the #1 seed in the West and fell to Trinity at the SCAC Conference Tournament just one game shy of the championship game. They closed out the season 29-15 overall and 13-3 in the SCAC.
