The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 17/14 Softball’s Jefferson & Iakopo selected in Athletes Unlimited Draft
05.04.2022 | Softball
Texas was the only school to have multiple draftees among the 13 total collegiate selections
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (fourth selection) and senior catcher/first baseman Mary Iakopo (12th selection) were each selected on Wednesday afternoon as two of just 13 top college players invited in the organization's College Draft to join Athletes Unlimited for its third professional season stretching from July 29-August 28 at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Ill.
Texas was the only school to have multiple draftees in the 2022 Athletes Unlimited Draft and now boasts three all-time Athletes Unlimited draftees after former UT standout Shannon Rhodes was chosen in the 2021 college draft. The Longhorns have been well represented in the AU softball family during the league's first two seasons. Cat Osterman and Nadia Taylor each participated in the first two Athletes Unlimited campaigns with Osterman winning the inaugural individual points title back in 2020.
The 13-member class included: Oklahoma outfielder Jocelyn Alo, Virginia Tech pitcher Keely Rochard, USF pitcher Georgina Corrick, Jefferson, Arkansas infielder Danielle Gibson, Washington pitcher Gabbie Plain, Mississippi State catcher Mia Davidson, Florida State infielder Sydney Sherrill, Florida infielder Hannah Adams, Duke pitcher Peyton St. George, San Diego State pitcher Maggie Balint, Iakopo and Northwestern infield Rachel Lewis. The draftees were selected by the Athletes Unlimited Player Executive Committee.
Jefferson has kept on producing at her usual three-time NFCA All-American pace during her final campaign in the Burnt Orange & White. The Humble, Texas, native currently ranks sixth in all of NCAA Division I in total hits (68) and 11th in doubles (16). She also rates fourth in the Big 12 Conference in batting average (.420), runs scored (54) and stolen bases (14), while ranking fifth in the league in total bases (97) and sixth in on-base percentage (.495). Jefferson currently tops the Longhorns with 22 multi-hit games this year and is currently riding a season-long, 17-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 recently became just the second UT player to reach the 200-run scored milestone. She also needs just two more doubles to break to Texas career doubles record currently held by former Longhorns Jodi Reeves and Kaitlyn Washington.
Iakopo has managed an outstanding "super senior" campaign for the Longhorns, ranking fifth in the Big 12 Conference with 42 RBIs, sixth in RBIs-per-game (0.88), seventh in total bases (85) and 14th in slugging percentage (.607), while hitting at a .321 clip with 32 runs scored, 11 doubles, nine HR's and a 1.024 OPS. The Carson, Calif., native has registered 14 multi-hit and 12 multi-RBI efforts in 2022 and posted a 14-game reached base streak from March 18-April 14. Included among her standout performances this year was a three-run walk-off HR to complete 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 .330 clip with 225 career hits, 48 HR's and 192 RBIs in 254 total games.
