May 7, 2008

FRISCO, Texas--McNeese State's Jenny Clay continues to collect honors as she was named the 2008 Southland Conference Utility Player of the Year for the second straight season here Wednesday when the league released its All-Southland Conference Softball Teams.

Clay, a senior from Arnaudville, has led the Cowgirls in almost every offensive category this season including batting average, slugging percent, on base percent, doubles, hits and runs scored. Clay was also named to the first team as a designated player. The all-conference selection is her fourth and first as a designated player. The other three honors came as an all-conference catcher.

During the season, Clay was either the Cowgirls' starting catcher or designated player. She leads the Southland Conference with 17 stolen bases and ranks among the Top 5 in eight offensive categories. Clay was selected as the Co-National Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week on March 30.

Also selected to the team was senior outfielder Megan Beard, who was a third team selection.

The Baton Rouge native earns her second all-SLC honor after being named to the third team last season. Beard was second on the team with seven doubles and four home runs, third with a .278 batting average and 44 hits and 22 RBI's. She had a .962 fielding percent and has committed only two errors this season.

Also garnering all-conference honors is junior catcher/designated player Rachel King. King, a native of Willis, Tx., earns her second all-conference honor after earning second team second team honors last year as a designated player.

This season King is second on the team with a .282 batting average with 37 hits, 15 RBI's, two doubles, one triple and has scored 15 runs.