ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Bradley Softball had a league-high three First-Team Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete selections according to an announcement by the league office Monday with seniors
Jaelen Hull and
Caitlyn McCarron joining repeat selection
Maria Schroeder among the Valley scholar-athlete honorees.
The Braves had three First-Team MVC Scholar-Athlete picks for the first time since 2014 and Schroeder is Bradley's first two-time First-Team Valley Scholar-Athlete since Bailiegh Basham and Mariah Cole were both first-team selections in 2013 and 2014. In fact, Schroeder is the sixth two-time First-Team MVC Scholar-Athlete in program history.
Hull was a first-team scholar-athlete selection after garnering honorable mention recognition last year as a junior. She paced the Braves with a career-high nine wins, including a victory at #16 Louisiana-Lafayette and also ranked third in the MVC with three saves. A dietetics major with a 3.80 cumulative grade point average, Hull also paced the team in ERA (3.19) and strikeouts (74).
Bradley's career saves leader, Hull holds the school marks for relief appearances in a season & career. She had a streak of five consecutive victories and earned three saves during a span of 11 appearances. Hull was a three-time NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete and finished her career among Bradley's career top 10 in victories, innings and strikeouts.
McCarron was a First-Team All-Valley selection as a senior, finishing the year second in the Valley with a .428 batting average which ranks second among Bradley season averages. The MVC Player of the Week for March 27, she had 28 more hits in 2017 than she did in her first three seasons combined with her 25 extra-base hits the most at Bradley since 2004 and tied for third-best season total on The Hilltop.
A nursing major with a 3.24 cumulative grade point average, McCarron posted the best season slugging percentage in school history (.686), while her season hits (68 - T6th), doubles (15 - T5th) and RBI (40 - 5th) all ranked among the top season marks in program history. In Valley play, she hit .357 while driving in 16 runs. McCarron had a team-high 18 two-out RBI and had 21 multi-hit outings in her final season as finished with the highest career slugging percentage (.538) at Bradley.
Schroeder was Bradley's first CoSIDA Academic All-District V selection since 2013 and is a repeat First-Team Valley Scholar-Athlete pick. This season she was third on the team with a .319 average and paced the squad in doubles (16) and walks (19). The only player in program history to drive in 25 or more runs in three consecutive seasons, she is a marketing (social media) major with a 3.81 cumulative grade point average.
Named MVC Player of the Week after helping Bradley to the title at the Mardi Gras Classic, Schroeder belted a two-run homer in the 2-1 victory at #16 Louisiana-Lafayette and was a two-time MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week selection in 2017. A two-time Second-Team All-Valley performer, she is one of three players in school history with 97 career runs and 97 career RBI. The two-time NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete ranks 10th at Bradley with a .330 career batting average and enters her senior year among Bradley's career top 10 in doubles, runs, RBI, slugging percentage, walks and on-base percentage.
In order to be eligible, student-athletes must have at 3.2 GPA or higher, be at least a sophomore in athletic and academic standing and meet certain playing requirements.
