May 9, 2012

NEWPORT NEWS, VA. - Five Saint Joseph's softball players earned Atlantic 10 All-Conference honors, in voting by the league's head coaches. Senior Bernadette Moran was named to the All-Conference First Team while senior Erin Gallagher, junior Dana Parks and freshman Lauren Rendon each earned All-A-10 Second Team honors. Freshman Nicole Palase was an A-10 All-Rookie Team selection, along with Rendon. Parks was also named to the Academic All-Conference Team.

Starting all 48 games this season at second base, Moran earns All-Conference honors for the third year in a row, and first team honors for the second consecutive season. Posting a career-best season this year, Moran currently leads the Hawks with a .331 batting average, and has set new career-highs in RBI (24), doubles (11), while matching her single-season mark for 46 hits.

Proving to be one of the top all-around players in the conference, Parks earns her second straight A-10 All-Conference recognition after bouncing back from a season-ending injury at the end of 2011. Fully healthy this year, she has started all 48 games in center field and boasts a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. At the plate, Parks has continued to be one of the main catalysts for Saint Joseph's with a team-high 50 hits and 24 runs scored to go with a .321 batting average. The junior also earns A-10 All-Academic recognition for the second year in a row.

Setting the Saint Joseph's career record for wins (64) and strikeouts (626) this season, Gallagher has battled through injury in remaining one of the conference's elite pitchers. Currently third in the A-10 in ERA (1.96), she has gone 10-14 in the circle this year, while holding opposing batters to just a .228 batting average. A three-time All-Conference selection, Gallagher enters this week with 99 strikeouts on the year while pitching 157.1 innings so far.

Making an immediate impact in the middle of the Saint Joseph's lineup, Rendon currently leads the Hawks in home runs (eight) and RBIs (32), while ranking third in batting average (.305). Playing all 48 games this season, she has made a smooth transition to the collegiate game, becoming one of the top catchers in the Atlantic 10, ranking fifth in catching runners stealing (13) and helping the SJU pitching staff to the second-best ERA (2.32) in the conference.

Starting 44 games at shortstop, Palase has become an anchor for Saint Joseph's up the middle. Showing versatility to bat anywhere in the lineup, she is currently second on the team in stolen bases (eight), tied for second in doubles (six) and ranks fourth in batting average (.296), hits (40) and RBIs (16).

The Hawks open play in the Atlantic 10 Championship today in St. Louis against Temple. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m. EST. 2012 Atlantic 10 Softball Awards