Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics
STILLWATER, Okla. – Led by NFCA All-Central Region First Team selection Sydney McKinney, Wichita State placed a total of five student-athletes on the All-Region Teams.
For the second straight season Wichita State tied a school record with five All-Region honorees.
McKinney is joined by Addison Barnard (Second Team), Alex Aguilar (Third Team), Lauren Lucas (Third Team) and Lauren Mills (Third Team).
A Norborne, Mo. native, McKinney becomes a three-time NFCA All-Region pick, and a first time First Team selection. She leads the country in batting average (.519) and hits (97) and is looking to become the first player in NCAA history to lead the nation in both categories in consecutive seasons. McKinney is the 2023 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and unanimous All-Conference First Team selection.
This is also the third straight year on the All-Central Region Team for Barnard. She was on the First Team a season ago and Second Team as a freshman. Barnard is hitting .373 with eight doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, 35 RBI, 58 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. Her eight doubles and four triples are both career highs.
A true freshman, Aguilar burst onto the scene in 2023. The Texas native is 14-2 with a 1.54 ERA in 104.2 innings. She has thrown six complete game shutouts. Aguilar was a unanimous pick for American Rookie of the Year after ranking fourth among all freshmen pitchers in ERA. In conference games, Aguilar was a perfect 8-0 in the circle.
For the second straight season Lucas landed on the Third Team after another stellar season at the plate. She is hitting .398 with 15 doubles, seven triples, four home runs and 59 RBI. Lucas ranks in the top 10 nationally in triples and RBI, both of which are career highs.
Rounding out the Third Team is the senior Mills. Mills has totaled nine home runs and 42 RBI to go with a .368 batting average. Her 37 walks are a career high.
The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with First, Second and Third-team selections. NFCA member head coaches from each respective region nominated student-athletes and voted for the teams. All awarded student-athletes now become eligible for the 2023 NFCA Division I All-America squads.
The 2023 NFCA Division I All-America teams, voted on by the NFCA DI All-American Committee, will be announced on Wednesday, May 31.