Three Eutectics named to AMC All-Conference teams

With the softball regular season having closed out, the American Midwest Conference unveiled the list of players selected to the 2024 All-Conference teams. The University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy saw three players selected as All-Conference with one named to the AMC's Champions of Character team. Sydney Hinojosa and Lexi Knoll were among the 20 players named to the AMC Second Team All-Conference while Emma Henley was among the ten athletes selected to the Third Team All-AMC. Reese Smith was named as the UHSP representative on the Champions of Character team.

 

Hinojosa has come on the scene and led the Eutectics in hitting in her freshman season as she has a batting average of .346 on a team that as a club hits .281. The rookie has a slugging percentage of .523 and an on-base percentage of .388. She has a club-leading three homeruns on the year and her 27 RBI's are also tops on the team. She has 37 hits which are tied for second-most on the club. She leads the team in doubles with ten, has six walks on the year and has struck out just 14 times. Hinojosa has stepped in as a freshman and provided a major jolt to the UHSP offense.

 

Knoll has been dynamic in a number of roles for UHSP Head Coach Michelle Patrico this season. She has logged 102.2 innings in the circle for the Eutectics, been productive as the plate and also been solid defensively. In the circle, Knoll has essentially been half the staff for UHSP with Emma Henley being the other main pitcher. Knoll is 4-14 with an ERA of 7.91 with each of her 19 appearances coming in a starting role. Her best outing arguably came on Feb. 24 when she spun five solid innings against Blackburn allowing just one run, scattering six hits while fanning four in picking up the win. She recorded a season-high nine strikeouts in a win over Rust on March 10. At the plate, Knoll is just a tick behind Hinojosa with a .336 batting average (second on the team), .398 OBP and .457 SLG. She ranks second on the club in doubles (8), homeruns (2) and RBI's (24). The senior drove in a season-high four in a rout over Harris-Stowe on April 9. Knoll and Hinojosa both own a .950 fielding percentage for the year with Knoll having committed just seven errors while playing both corner base defensive positions, but spending most of her time at first base.

 

Henley has been the ace of the pitching staff for UHSP. She was 8-11 with one save and held an ERA of 4.92. Henley struck out 47 in 21 appearances on the year, averaged 2.69 strikeouts-per-seven-innings and held a WHIP of 1.63. The sophomore starter walked just 19 throughout the season in 122.1 innings pitched. Henley led the team defensively committing just one error in the circle in 32 chances figuring to a .969 fielding percentage.

 

Smith was selected for the Champions of Character team as a utility player for the Eutectics. She had ten hits in 40 at-bats and appeared in 21 games this season. Defensively she committed just two errors in 57 total chances for a fielding percentage of .965, second-best on the team behind Henley. The Champions of Character team recognizes the student-athletes who best demonstrate outstanding character in accordance with the NAIA's five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.