May 15, 2008

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Four members of the Purdue softball team received All-Mideast Region acclaim as announced by the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association on Thursday. First baseman Kelsey Haupert, second baseman Kelly Miller, shortstop Candace Curtis and third baseman Ashley Hall all garnered second-team All-Mideast Region honors. The All-Region honor is the second of Hall's career as she was named to the All-Mideast Region first team in 2007.

Haupert has appeared in 39 games for Purdue this season, starting 25 at first base and 13 at third base. The sophomore is batting .322 with seven home runs and nine doubles despite missing the first four weekend of the season. She has chalked up 37 hits, notching multiple hits in nine games, including a 3-for-4 effort at Butler. The Olympia, Wash., native has recorded 24 RBI, including two game winners, while posting multiple RBI in five games. Haupert posted a seven-game hitting streak from March 15 to 29 and has reached base via hit or walk in 32 of her 39 games.

Miller has started all 55 of Purdue's games at second base, while ranking among the best in the nation and the Big Ten in sacrifice hits. She ranks third nationally with 0.42 sacrifices per game, while leading the conference with 23 sacrifice hits overall, a mark which ties the Purdue single-season record, and 12 in conference action. The junior paces the team with a .346 average and has posted multiple hits in 14 games. The Indianapolis native posted a 13-game hitting streak from March 8 to 29 and snapped a six-game hitting streak at the Big Ten Tournament. Miller has scored 27 runs, including eight game winners, while registering a .363 on-base percentage. She ranks eighth in the Big Ten in defensive assists (108) and 10th in batting average.

Curtis has started all 55 of Purdue's games at shortstop, while batting 33 with a team-leading 39 RBI and 11 home runs, a tally which ranks third in Purdue single-season history. The junior has posted multiple hits 12 games and multiple RBI in 11 contests, including five three RBI efforts and four game-winners. The owner of a 12-games hitting streak, Curtis paces the team with 26 walks, while also boasting a .432 on-base percentage and a .609 slugging percentage. The Danville, Calif., native has reached base via hit or walk in 46 of her 55 games, while earning a spot on the career top five lists for slugging percentage (5th with .493) and on-base percentage (5th with .378). In 2008, Curtis ranks among the top 10 in the Big Ten in several categories: fourth in assists (120), seventh in home runs (11), eighth in RBI (39), eighth in slugging percentage (.609) and ninth in total bases (95). She also sits sixth with assists during conference play with 44.

Despite recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Hall has appeared in 44 games, starting 38 at third base and six at designated player. She has made a mark on Purdue, the Big Ten and the nation in the triples category. The senior ranks second in the nation with 0.18 triples per game and fourth nationally with a Purdue single-season record eight triples. Hall also set the Purdue career record with 14 three-baggers and tied a school single-game record with two triples against South Alabama, Feb. 9. The Noblesville, Ind., native is batting .311 with a team-best 33 runs scored, including three game winners, despite missing 11 games with a shoulder injury. She has racked up 47 hits, including 15 multi-hit games and a 4-for-4 effort against South Alabama. Hall boasts a .350 on-base percentage and .430 slugging percentage, while stealing eight bases in 10 attempts. She has reached base via hit or walk in 31 games, while chalking up multiple RBI six times, including two game winners. In Big Ten play, Hall ranked second among conference players with two triples and eighth with 14 runs scored. She also has earned a spot on the Purdue career top five for stolen basees (third with 69) and runs scored (5th with 117).

All four players will now be placed on the ballot for NFCA All-America honors, which will be announced during the 2008 College World Series.

Hall and designated player Katie Mitchell each earned NFCA All-Mideast Region first team honors in 2007.

Purdue has posted a 34-21 record in 2008 and is set to make its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance Friday afternoon in Los Angeles. The Boilermakers are slated to face No. 20 Nevada in a 5:30 p.m. ET contest. The game will air live on ESPNU and will be broadcast on WSHY 1410 AM and purduesports.com.