University of Rhode Island announces Lynchard Earns NFCA Second Team All-Region Honors
KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island senior Liz Lynchard earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I Northeast All-Region Second Team honors, the NFCA announced Thursday afternoon.
One of 37 players selected in the Northeast Region, Lynchard won 10 games for Rhode Island, leading the team to a spot in the Atlantic 10 Championship for the first time in 13 years. She had 144 strikeouts this season, the third highest single-season total in program history. Lynchard ended the season with exactly 300 career strikeouts, making her the sixth Rhode Island player to reach the milestone.
A two-time team captain and two-time Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team honoree, Lynchard was second in the conference with a 3.38 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In the classroom, she has a a 3.76 overall grade-point average and a 3.8 GPA in her major, completing a degree in Biomedical Engineering degree this spring while also finishing a minor in Mathematics.
She finished the regular season fourth in the A-10 with 7.1 strikeouts per 7.0 innings and fifth in total strikeouts with 142 strikeouts. She ranked in the Top seven in the conference in strikeouts (5th), wins (7th), shutouts (t-2nd) and innings pitched (7th). Rhode Island's top pitcher, Lynchard is the first woman in 20 years with four shutouts in one season for the Rams.
Lynchard is the first Ram since 2002 to earn All-Region honors. Gabby Zagami was a second-team selection as a catcher that season. Kellie Cookie was a first-team pick as a second baseman in 1996 and 1998, and Anne Kelsen was a second-team pick as a shortstop in 1994.
Lynchard will return to Rhode Island in 2024, using her COVID season of eligibility to pitch a fifth season for the Rams. Despite having the first two seasons of her career halted by the pandemic, she will have a chance to rank among the program's all-time leaders in wins, appearances, starts, innings pitched, shutouts and strikeouts.
2023 NFCA Division I Northeast All-Region Team
First Team
Pitcher - Allison Boaz, Boston University
Pitcher - Kasey Ricard, Boston University
Pitcher - Emily Winburn, University of Delaware
Catcher - Allison Heffley, Harvard University
First Base - Kaelin Cash, Saint Joseph's University
Second Base - Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University
Third Base - Caitlin Coker, Boston University
Shortstop - Kayla Roncin, Boston University
Outfield - Lauren Keleher, Boston University
Outfield - Alyssa Costello, Stony Brook University
Outfield - Neleh Nogay, Fordham University
Utility/Pitcher - Bailey Enoch, Fordham University
Utility/Pitcher - Jessie Niegocki, Rider University
DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher - Emily Gant, Boston University
Second Team
Pitcher - Kiley Myers, Marist College
Pitcher - Liz Lynchard, University of Rhode Island
Pitcher - Taylor Wroten, University of Delaware
Catcher - Audrey Sellers, Boston University
First Base - Maddie Pleasants, Marist College
Second Base - Cara McNulty, St. Peter's University
Third Base - Hanna Garber, University of Delaware
Shortstop - Haley Ahr, Marist College
Outfield - Charli Warren, Fairfield University
Outfield - Peyton Pusey, Marist College
Outfield - Chelsea Manto, Hofstra University
DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher - Emily Carroll, Sacred Heart University
Third Team
Pitcher - Holly Beeman, Fordham University
Pitcher - Lindsey Cowans, Long Island University
Catcher - Becca Vaillancourt, Hofstra University
First Base - Madi Mays, Harvard University
Second Base - Sam Freeland, Marist College
Third Base - Natiah Turner, St. Peter's University
Shortstop - Meghan Giordano, Hofstra University
Outfield - Julz Garber, University of Delaware
Outfield - Alex Perren, Yale University
Outfield - Amy Petrovich, Sacred Heart University
DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher - Alyssa Gonzalez, Sacred Heart University
Original source can be found here.