The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 16/18 Softball puts four players on the NFCA All-Region teams
05.19.2022 | Softball
Hailey Dolcini, Janae Jefferson, Mary Iakopo & Mia Scott all earned NFCA Central Region accolades
SEATTLE, Wash. – The University of Texas placed four players on the various 2022 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Central Region Teams, the Association announced on Thursday.
Senior pitcher Hailey Dolcini was selected to the first team (third career NFCA All-Region honor), while senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (fourth career NFCA All-Region honor), senior catcher/first baseman Mary Iakopo (third career NFCA All-Region honor) and freshman third baseman Mia Scott were all tabbed to the second team.
Following their four 2022 selections, the Longhorns now boast 88 overall all-region nods in program history.
Dolcini has been strong from the circle for the Longhorns as a "super senior," registering a 19-8 overall record with a 2.32 ERA, 11 complete games, four solo shutouts and 189 strikeouts over a staff-high 162.2 innings of work. The Ferndale, Calif., native currently ranks third in the Big 12 Conference in strikeouts, fourth in the league and 20th in all of NCAA Division I in hits-per-seven innings (4.13) and is limiting opponents to a miniscule .164 batting average. As of May 19, the Senior CLASS Award Top 10 national finalist and All-Big 12 Conference First Team choice has won 15 of her last 20 decisions dating back to March 12, including victories over Minnesota, No. 23 Louisiana, No. 20 LSU, Lamar, Texas State, Kansas (two), Iowa State (two), No. 1 Oklahoma, Texas Tech (three) & Baylor (two). For her efforts this season, Dolcini has twice been chosen as the Wilson/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week & three times as the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week.
A unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 Conference First Team, Jefferson has continued producing at her usual three-time NFCA All-American level during her final campaign in the Burnt Orange & White. The Humble, Texas, native currently ranks eighth in all of NCAA Division I in total hits (75) and doubles (19). She also rates second in the Big 12 in batting average (.419), third in runs scored (61) and steals (15), fourth in total bases (107) and sixth in on-base percentage (.493). Jefferson currently tops the Longhorns with 24 multi-hit games and heads into the NCAA Seattle Regional riding a career-long, 22-game reached base streak dating back to March 26. She's made plenty of statistical history this year by becoming both the Texas and Big 12 career hits leader, the Longhorns all-time games played & started leader and just the second UT player to reach the 200-run scored plateau. Jefferson also recently broke the Texas career doubles record formerly held by Jodi Reeves & Kaitlyn Washington.
Iakopo has put together an outstanding "super senior" campaign for the Longhorns, ranking fifth in the Big 12 Conference in RBIs (50), RBIs-per-game (0.94) and slugging percentage (.633) and sixth in total bases (98), while hitting at a .342 clip with 36 runs scored, 13 doubles, 10 HR's and a 1.059 OPS. The Carson, Calif., native and All-Big 12 Conference First Team selection has registered 16 multi-hit and 15 multi-RBI efforts in 2022 and posted a 14-game reached base streak from March 18-April 14. Included among her standout performances this season was a three-run walk-off HR that completed Texas' seventh-inning rally from a 5-3 deficit to a 7-5 victory over Iowa State (April 1). For her standout efforts against both Louisiana and Iowa State, Iakopo earned her first selection as the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week (April 5). Over her standout career, combining both Oregon and Texas, Iakopo has hit at a .334 clip with 233 career hits, 49 HR's and 200 RBIs in 259 total games.
A 2022 All-Big 12 Conference Second Team choice, Scott has erupted on the softball scene during her initial campaign on the Forty Acres. She currently rates second in the Big 12 in both triples (four) and steals (22), fourth in doubles (13), hits (60) & runs scored (52) and seventh in batting average (.375). The Angleton, Texas, product has registered 18 multi-hit and seven multi-RBI efforts while managing a 16-game reached base streak from Feb. 19-March 12. During her Longhorns debut back on Feb. 16 against McNeese State, Scott tied a school single-game record with two triples as part of a 2-for-3 performance with two runs scored and a RBI. Arguably her biggest hit of the season came on April 16 as Scott blasted a crucial three-run, sixth-inning double to help Texas end No. 1 Oklahoma's 40-game winning streak. She also posted multi-hit games against nationally-ranked teams Florida State, UCF & LSU.
Texas (38-17-1) will open NCAA Seattle Regional action on Fri., May 20, at Husky Stadium against Big Sky Conference champion Weber State (38-10) at 4:30 p.m. CT live on Longhorn Network.
