TOWSON, Md. - Trine University sophomore softball pitcher Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton) became just the third student-athlete in school history to be named a Capital One Academic All-America®. Fuller was named to the Division III Softball Third Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
The Capital One Division III Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structures, to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2012-13 and Division III Academic All-America® teams program.
An exercise science major, Fuller currently holds a 3.88 grade point average and was one of just three sophomores named to the first-, second-, or third-teams. The right-hander stepped up in her second season for the Thunder with a 15-1 record, including getting the victory in the MIAA Tournament championship game and a win over Mount Union in the NCAA Angola Softball Regional. Fuller was also named to the All-MIAA First Team at the conclusion of the season.
In the circle, Fuller led the Trine pitching staff with 136 strikeouts in 104 innings. Fuller also finished the season tied for the team lead with five shutouts, which ranks 59th in the nation, over 17 starts including a no-hitter on March 5, 2013 against Beloit (IL). Batters hit just .174 off Fuller who finished the year with an Earned Run Average of 1.48 while also recording a save. Fuller currently ranks seventh in Division III allowing just 4.38 hits per seven innings, 15th with 9.2 strikeouts per seven innings and 32nd in ERA.
Fuller becomes the first non-football player to earn Capital One Academic All-America® honors. Former football players Jeremy Howard (2009) and Tyler Terry (2010) were previously named to the second teams.
A full list of the Capital One Academic All-America® Division III Softball Team can be found here: link
To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 18,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.
For more information about the Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com.