BYU softball: Five earn All-Academic WCC

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference announced Friday five BYU softball players have received all-academic honors.

Senior Lacey Hofstedt, junior Coco Tauali’i and sophomores Lauren Bell, McKenzie St. Clair and Ashley Thompson were all recognized for their pursuit of academic excellence in conjunction with their contributions to their team.

Hofstedt, the lone senior starter for the Cougars, has recorded a career-high .441 batting average for the 33rd-best in the nation while also hitting .512 in conference play. She has additionally contributed career highs in runs batted in (14), runs scored (35) and hits (64). She holds the BYU record for most career stolen bases with 77 and the single-season record with 25. She currently has 23 this season. This honor is the second All-Academic WCC selection for the outfielder.

Tauali’i has been a standout defensively for BYU, shoring up the infield from third base with her strong arm. From the plate she has also led the Cougars with 10 home runs, surpassing seven combined dingers from her freshman and sophomore seasons. This is her second All-Academic WCC honor.

From the middle infield Bell has provided outstanding defense while also playing a reliable role in the No. 2 spot of the batting order. The second baseman has posted a .329 average with two home runs and 29 RBI with 13 sacrifice hits. She also has the top fielding percentage of any of the BYU starting infielders.

Playing second and outfield while also hitting in the designated player slot, St. Clair has contributed a .325 average with four homers and 28 runs driven in, including eight in the three-game conference series with San Diego.

The first baseman Thompson earned All-Academic WCC Honorable Mention this season at BYU. She has hit .324 from the plate with eight home runs and 40 RBI for second on the team. This is her first all-conference academic honor after being named an NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete in 2014.