The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
05.30.2018 | Softball
Freshman second baseman becomes the 12th Longhorns player to earn NFCA All-America honors
AUSTIN, Texas – Following a standout freshman campaign that saw her lead the Texas softball program in numerous offensive categories, Longhorns second baseman Janae Jefferson has been selected as a second team National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American according to a Wednesday release from the Association.
In the process, Jefferson becomes just the fourth Texas freshman to earn NFCA All-American accolades in program history, joining former Longhorns standouts Cat Osterman (2002), Lindsay Gardner (2000) and Blaire Luna (2010). With her honor, the Humble, Texas, native also rates as the 12th different UT player to receive one of 20 combined NFCA All-American accolades.
A top 10 finalist for the prestigious Schutt Sports/NFCA National Freshman of the Year award, Jefferson led the Longhorns during her inaugural season in batting average (.392), hits (74), runs scored (30), multi-hit games (23), on-base percentage (.463) and steals (tied with 11), while also posting 11 doubles and 24 RBIs. Her hit total was the second-most all-time in a single campaign by a Texas player, trailing only Lindsay Gardner's 83 hits back in 2000.
The 2018 NFCA All-Central Region First Team, All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Freshman selection reached base safely in 50-of-59 games played, and hit safely in 45-of-59, while posting a career-best 14-game hitting streak and a pair of 16-plus-game reached base streaks. Perhaps most impressive, Jefferson proved to be one of the toughest players to strikeout in all of NCAA Division I softball. She didn't K until her 37th game and 133rd overall plate appearance and struck out just seven times over 218 total plate appearances. During Big 12 play, Jefferson guided the league with a .533 average (counting Big 12 games only) and posted the most hits (32 – led the conference) by any player in a single Big 12 season in UT history.
Jefferson was one of seven NFCA All-Americans representing five schools (Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Baylor) out of the Big 12 Conference.
