University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heel Pitching Staff Earns All-ACC Academic Honors
June 23, 2016 | Softball
GREENSBORO – North Carolina's Kendra Lynch and Lauren Fuller have been named to the 2016 All-ACC Academic Team after putting together strong seasons both on the field and in the classroom. The pair of exercise and sport science majors combined to pitch 92 percent of the Tar Heels' innings along with providing power in the batting lineup, while Fuller also saw action at first base.
To be eligible for the All-ACC Academic team, student-athletes must post a grade point average of 3.0 or higher for the 2016 spring semester as well as a 3.0 cumulative GPA for her career. Athletic achievements are then factored in to select from the list of nominees. The ACC Honor Roll, which recognizes all conference student-athletes with a 3.0 GPA for the 2015-16 academic year, will be released in July.
Fuller was a key role player for the Tar Heels in her senior season, hitting .298 with 10 extra-base hits, 17 walks and 28 RBIs. Appearing in 53 of UNC's 57 games, Fuller saw action at first base and at designated player, while going 2-3 with a save in 17 appearances in the circle. The senior utility fielder led the conference on defense, recording the most fielding chances in the ACC while maintaining a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. The Columbia, Missouri, native picks up her first career All-ACC Academic nod after being named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2013 and 2015 and also garnering NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete honors as a freshman.
Lynch shouldered a gigantic load in the circle in 2016, setting new Tar Heel single-season records with 53 appearances, 47 starts, 301.1 innings pitched and 33 complete games, while ranking seventh in the nation with 28 wins on the year. A 2016 All-ACC First Team selection and three-time ACC Pitcher of the Week, the junior collects her first career All-ACC Academic nod after also earning NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete honors this season.
In addition to the All-ACC Academic team, the conference named Louisville junior Maryssa Becker as the 2016 ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A chemistry major, Becker was named to the All-ACC First Team and to the ACC Softball Championship All-Tournament Team after going 20-11 with a 2.22 ERA and just 33 walks while batting .411 with a school-record 60 RBIs.
| 2016 All-ACC Academic Team | |||
| Ellie Cooper | Florida State | Jr. | Sport Management |
| Meghan King | Florida State | R-Fr. | Family & Child Science |
| Morgan Klaevemann | Florida State | So. | Biology |
| Emily Anderson | Georgia Tech | So. | Biology |
| Madeline Lionberger | Georgia Tech | Sr. | Biology |
| Samantha Pierannunzi | Georgia Tech | Jr. | Business Administration |
| Maryssa Becker | Louisville | Jr. | Chemistry |
| Lillie Goetz | Louisville | Fr. | Exercise Science |
| Megan Hensley | Louisville | Fr. | Biology |
| Jenna Jordan | Louisville | So. | Exercise Science |
| Jordan McNary | Louisville | Jr. | Sports Administration |
| Sidney Melton | Louisville | So. | Exercise Science |
| Morgan Meyer | Louisville | Jr. | Communication |
| Nicole Pufahl | Louisville | Jr. | Exercise Science |
| Brittany Sims | Louisville | Sr. | Chemistry |
| Hailey Smith | Louisville | Sr. | Sport Administration |
| Lauren Fuller | North Carolina | Sr. | Exercise & Sport Science |
| Kendra Lynch | North Carolina | Jr. | Exercise & Sport Science |
| Molly Hutchison | NC State | Jr. | Agricultural Business |
| Rachel Nasland | Notre Dame | Jr. | Psychology |
| Melissa Rochford | Notre Dame | Fr. | Undeclared |
| Allie Rhodes | Notre Dame | Sr. | Management Counseling |
| Kimmy Sullivan | Notre Dame | Jr. | Science-Business |
| Ali Wester | Notre Dame | Fr. | Undeclared |
| Karley Wester | Notre Dame | Jr. | Accountancy |
| Olivia Gray | Pitt | Fr. | Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences |
| Erin Hershman | Pitt | So. | Communications |
| Maggie Sevilla | Pitt | Sr. | Psychology & Administration of Justice |
| Maddi Doane | Syracuse | So. | Health & Exercise Science |
| Erika Osherow | Virginia | Fr. | Kinesiology |
| Allison Davis | Virginia | So. | Commerce |
| Bre Davenport | Virginia Tech | So. | Human Development |
| Lauren Duff | Virginia Tech | Fr. | Criminology |
| Maggie Tyler | Virginia Tech | Sr. | Multimedia Journalism |
2016 ACC Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Maryssa Becker, Louisville
