Herd's Folden named C-USA Player of Year

HOUSTON, Texas -- Accolades from a brilliant college career continued Wednesday night when Marshall University senior Rachel Folden was named as Conference USA's Player of the Year at the annual softball awards banquet.

The Baldwin Park, Calif., native, also named the All-C-USA first-team catcher, batted .433 and led the conference with a .920 slugging percentage, .568 on-base percentage, 53 runs scored and tied with Laurie Wagner of Houston with 17 home runs.

League coaches voted on the Player of the Year award, which Folden also won in 2006.

Folden is now a three-time first-team All-Conference USA selectee and was also named to the C-USA Academic Team.

Accompanying Folden with awards was junior transfer Kelly Nielson, who was named the Co-Newcomer of the Year.

After spending two years at Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz., Nielson impacted immediately at Marshall with four home runs and 26 RBI, including game-winning homers against East Carolina and UTEP.

Nielson shared the award with Marquita Council of Central Florida.

Thundering Herd senior Samantha Rodriguez was selected as a first-team outfielder, joining Folden on the list. Rodriguez, a two-time C-USA second-team member received her first-team honor after leading the Herd with 43 RBI, 13 home runs, nine doubles and two triples.

Junior Rachael Sofie, who played both right and left field, was recognized as a C-USA second-team outfielder. She hit .359 in the regular season with three home runs and 25 RBI.

Melanie Stoehr was named to the All-Conference USA freshman team. The Tacoma, Wash., native delivered late-game dramatics during her first year at Marshall, including a two-run walk off homer to defeat UAB in a 10-inning marathon.

She also recorded a walk-off base on balls against No. 9 DePaul to secure the Herd's victory over its highest ranked opponent in school history.