Full A-10 Release
All-Conference Teams (PDF)

BRONX, N.Y. – Four Explorers received All-Conference recognition for exceptional performances on the softball diamond and in the classroom on Tuesday afternoon. The Blue and Gold had at least one representative on all four teams.
 
Alicia Aughton (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) headlined the quartet. The junior earned a place on both the First and Second Teams for her sparkling performance in the batter's box and pitching circle this season.
 
Aughton was named First Team designated player on the heels of her finest season yet for the Blue and Gold. She set new career highs for batting average (.309), home runs (7), and RBIs (25). What was most impressive was the way she turned things up a notch in conference play. She batted .429 (18-for-42) with six of her homers and 17 of her RBIs coming against A-10 opponents.
 
Her performance in the pitching circle garnered Second Team honors. Aughton set new career bests in wins (11), earned run average (2.77), and opponents average against (.232).  She led the entire conference in both earned run average and opponents average against nearly wire-to-wire, before relinquishing the lead during the final weekend of the regular season.
 
The Explorers surprising season has been buoyed by the emergence of a strong crop of young starters. Freshmen Michelle Hagarty (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester) and Christina Bascara (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) headlined the group and gained fitting recognition, being named to the All-Rookie Team.
 
Hagarty was a consistent spark plug at the top of the lineup for the Explorers. She provided a dynamic power and speed combination, leading the team in runs scored (30) and homers (9). She came just one homer shy of tying the single-season record set by Megan Hodgson last season. The talented freshman started all 40 games at shortstop for the Explorers this season.
 
Bascara dazzled with deft glove work and a potent bat, starting all 40 games at the hot corner for the Explorers. She led the team with a .330 batting average and two triples, while ranking second in runs scored (21). She added four doubles, four homers, and 13 RBIs. While most freshmen struggle to keep pace once the conference slate begins, Bascara only improved once A-10 play began. She batted .340 in A-10 play, while she socked eight of her ten extra-base hits against conference opponents.
 
Two Explorers also were given recognition for their commitment to excellence in the classroom as well. Alicia Aughton and Kendra Heyer were named to the All-Academic Team. Aughton studies mathematics, while Heyer is in the Speech Pathology program. Both players are a year ahead of schedule to graduate because of their dedication to academics.
The Explorers are set to make their post-season debut on Wednesday at 2:30 PM, as they take on Big 5 rival Saint Joseph's in the opening round of the A-10 Tournament.