Softball's Erin McAndrews Named GNAC Player of the Year

Suffolk University Softball junior Erin McAndrews (Marblehead, Mass.) was named the 2013 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Year. McAndrews finished the season as the Rams' leader in almost all offensive categories, while also setting the pace among GNAC players in batting average, triples and runs batted in. In 37 games this season she batted .479 (56-for-117), had 26 extra base hits including five home runs and 15 doubles. She drove in 42 runs while also hitting six triples and slugged at a .838 percentage.

Entering the final week of the season, McAndrews was ranked nationally among all NCAA Division-III players in the top 30 of the following categories: Triples (7th), batting average (13th), slugging percentage (15th), runs batted in (25th), and on-base percentage (28th).

Suffolk finished the season with a 16-25 record but advanced to the GNAC's Tournament Championship game despite being the number eight seed entering the eight-team field. McAndrews was 7-for-17 in the six playoff games for Suffolk as she also earned All-Tournament team honors for the Rams. She accounted for all four of Suffolk's runs in the opener going 3-for-4 driving in a pair of runs with two doubles while also scoring twice as the Rams knocked off number one seed Norwich University, 4-1.

On the season, McAndrews hit at a .537 clip in 24 GNAC games, including two games this season where she hit multiple home runs in victories over Anna Maria College on April 5 and Mount Ida College on April 14.

Alongside being named Player of the Year and to the All-Tournament team, McAndrews was tabbed as a first team All-Conference selection.

First year Head Coach Jaclyn Davis praised McAndrews' accomplishments in 2013. "Erin has been a leader for us both on and off the field. Her versatility and play this season allowed us to be successful on many different levels.

In two seasons with Suffolk, McAndrews has 97 hits, 47 of which have been for extra bases including eight home runs. She has also knocked in 80 runs while hitting .413. She was also a second team All-Conference selection as a sophomore in 2012.