ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Senior infielder Jackie Roth (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) and sophomore pitcher/designated player Madeline Lynch-Crumrine (Sedro-Woolley, Wash./Sedro-Woolley) were both named to the Missouri Valley Conference preseason all-conference team according to an announcement by the league office.
Bradley was picked to finish seventh in the preseason vote of the league coaches, but is one of four teams in the league to boast two preseason all-conference selections or more. The Braves received 31 points in the preseason poll to edge eighth-place Wichita State (30 points) and finish behind sixth-place Drake (54 points). Illinois State was the preseason favorite, receiving seven of 10 first-place votes.
After starting 50 games at catcher in 2011, Roth is expected to move back to third base where she started as a freshman and sophomore. She was a State Farm MVC all-tournament team selection last year after going 2-for-3 in Bradley's loss to eventual tournament champion Missouri State.
Bradley's active career leader in games played, at bats, hits, doubles, home runs and RBI, Roth ranked third on the team with 15 RBI last year and was fourth on the squad in runs. She tied for the team lead with seven sacrifice hits and hit .280 in Missouri Valley Conference play as a junior.
Lynch-Crumrine was the first BU freshman to earn all-conference honors since Amy Elza in 1994 (second-team), earning first-team all-league honors at pitcher/designated player and joined Roth on the preseason all-conference team this year. She emerged as the team's top pitcher down the stretch, starting 11 of the last 13 games and tossing 62.1 of the final 90 innings of the year.
In addition to hitting .241 with eight doubles, two homers and 14 RBI, Lynch-Crumrine led the team in appearances, innings pitched and ERA along with tying for the team lead in victories. She was 3-4 with a 2.45 ERA and struck out 41 batters while walking just 10 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
The Braves are scheduled to open the 2012 season Feb. 10-12 at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Bradley will play UC Santa Barbara (9:30 a.m. CST) and Idaho State (5 p.m. CST) Friday, Feb. 10.
