The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
05.29.2019 | Softball
Janae Jefferson earned first-team honors; Miranda Elish & Shealyn O’Leary reaped honorable mention
AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Texas softball program placed three players on the inaugural 2019 Softball America All-American Teams, the first-year publication announced on Wednesday.
Sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson earned a first-team selection, while junior pitcher Miranda Elish and freshman pitcher Shealyn O'Leary each received honorable mention accolades.
Jefferson continued the momentum from a NFCA All-American freshman campaign right into 2019, leading the Longhorns in batting average (.408 – third Big 12), runs scored (39) and hits (80 – third Big 12), while rating second in on-base percentage (.438) and stolen bases (10). The Humble, Texas, native was one of the toughest players to strikeout in NCAA Division I (seven K's in 215 plate appearances) and reached base safely in 52-of-62 games played. She registered a team-best 25 multi-hit efforts (recorded six three-hit games) to go with eight multi-RBI efforts in 2019.
A true "double threat," Elish excelled this season both in the circle and at the plate. The Crown Point, Ind., product led the Longhorns with 18 victories, 29 starts, 20 complete games, 11 solo shutouts (first in the Big 12) and 226 strikeouts (second in the Big 12) over 185.1 innings while also boasting three saves and limiting opponents to a .174 average. She's also in the national Top 30 for hits-allowed-per-seven innings (25th) and strikeouts-per-seven innings (27th). At the plate, Elish batted at a .315 clip with 21 runs scored, 16 extra-base hits, including six HR's, and 27 RBIs while boasting a .928 OPS. Arguably her finest single performance of the season came back on March 22 in an 11-0 (5 inn.) win over Iowa State as the junior right hander tossed her second career no-hitter while going 2-for-4 at the plate with a walk-off grand slam (the first of her career) and five RBIs.
A top 10 finalist for NFCA National Freshman of the Year, O'Leary was terrific from the circle during her initial campaign in the Burnt Orange & White. The Castaic, Calif., native continues to lead NCAA Division I in ERA (0.65) to go along with a 14-3 overall record, nine complete games, four solo shutouts and 65 strikeouts over 97.2 innings of work. She tossed a perfect game at Baylor back on March 27, needing just 63 pitches to down the Lady Bears (2-0) and become the first Texas freshman to toss a perfecto since the legendary Cat Osterman back in 2002, as well as no-hitter against Longwood on March 6. During the season, O'Leary also became the first UT pitcher to start 11-0 since Blaire Luna back in 2013, registered a streak of 42.1 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run and tossed an "immaculate inning" of three strikeouts on nine straight strikes during a win over Sam Houston State.
