Changstrom Collects Second NFCA All-Region Honor

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Creighton softball senior Becca Changstrom collected 2014 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Great Lakes Region Second Team recognition the organization announced Thursday.

The honor marks the second NFCA accolade for Changstrom. The Bluejay pitcher secured an NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team spot this year after claiming an NFCA All-Midwest Region Second Team selection in 2013.

Changstrom's repeat selection marks the first time since 2010 that a Bluejay claimed NFCA all-region honors in consecutive years. That season Tara Oltman and current assistant coach Renae Sinkler earned a selection for a third and second straight season, respectively.

The Lincoln, Neb., native recently earned All-BIG EAST First Team recognition marking Changstrom's fourth year-end conference award after being named to All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) teams in each of her first three seasons. In 2013 she was also named the MVC Pitcher of the Year.

Changstrom led the BIG EAST with 10 shutouts this season. She rated second in the league for complete games (25) and wins (17) and ranked third overall for strikeouts (254). She posted 10 strikeouts or more nine times this year including a career high 16 versus Villanova (4/5). Her season total of 254 K's ranks No. 16 in the country and matches her season total from last season to tie for seventh all-time at CU. With 10 shutouts in 2014 she is tied for No. 10 nationally. Her average of 8.8 strikeouts per seven innings stands at No. 19 in the NCAA.

This year Changstrom joined former CU aces Oltman and Tammy Nielsen as just the third Bluejay pitcher to record over 250 K's in consecutive seasons. She has left an indelible mark on the Creighton record books after four years in Omaha. Changstrom ranks No. 2 all-time at Creighton for career appearances (133), starts (115) and complete games (93). Additionally, she stands No. 3 all-time for career wins (74), strikeouts (860) and innings pitched (766).

Changstrom claimed BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week three times and earned a spot on the BIG EAST weekly honor roll on six occasions. She also earned Creighton's Carl M. Reinert, S.J., Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor in 2014.

Creighton was one of four BIG EAST schools to have a player claim an NFCA all-region honor joining DePaul, St John's and Georgetown.

Creighton advanced to its first BIG EAST Softball Championship in its inaugural year in the league, falling in the semifinals to eventual champion DePaul. The Bluejays finished the year with an overall record of 29-24 and achieved a 10-10 mark in conference play.

The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each respective region, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to one of three 2014 NFCA Division I All-America teams. In addition, conference pitchers and players of the year not selected to the regional teams were added for All-America consideration.

The 2014 NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced at approximately 4 p.m. CT on Wednesday, May 28, via NFCA.org.

Great Lakes Region		First Team
Pos.	Name	School
P	Haylie Wagner	University of Michigan
P	Sara Moulton	University of Minnesota
C	Erin Burner	St. John's University
1B	Mary Connolly	DePaul University
2B	Brianna LeBeau	Northwestern University
3B	Kaitlyn Richardson	University of Minnesota
SS	Sierra Romero	University of Michigan
OF	Jennifer Gilbert	Ball State University
OF	Nicole Sappingfield	University of Michigan
OF	Mary Massei	University of Wisconsin
UT/P	Kirsten Verdun	DePaul University
DP/UT-Non-P	Taylor Hasselbach	University of Michigan

		Second Team
Pos.	Name	School
P	Kristen Wood	Northwestern University
P	Taylor-Paige Stewart	University of Wisconsin
P	Becca Changstrom	Creighton University
P	Cassandra Darrah	University of Wisconsin
C	Emily Naegele	Northern Illinois University
1B	Taylor Rager	Ball State University
2B	Jacki Fletcher	University of Illinois at Chicago
3B	Michelle Mueller	University of Wisconsin
SS	Tyler Walker	University of Minnesota
OF	Sierra Lawrence	University of Michigan
OF	Emily Allard	Northwestern University
OF	Lyndsay Doyle	University of Michigan
OF	Eileen McCann	Iona College
UT/P	Sara Groenewegen	University of Minnesota
DP/UT-Non-P	Andrea Filler	Northwestern University

		Third Team
Pos.	Name	School
P	Nicole Sleith	Robert Morris University
P	Megan Reiner	Fairleigh Dickinson University, Metropolitan
P	Carly Argyle	Iona College
C	Chloe Miller	University of Wisconsin
1B	Caitlin Blanchard	University of Michigan
2B	Erica Meyer	University of Minnesota
3B	Audrey Bickel	Ball State University
SS	Natalie Hernandez	University of Illinois at Chicago
OF	Briana Evans	Ball State University
OF	Andrea DiPrima	Northwestern University
OF	Paige Peterson	University of Illinois at Chicago
UT/P	Alexis Bower	St. Francis University (Pennsylvania)
DP/UT-Non-P	Stephanie Peace	University of Wisconsin

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