FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2001

Union Wins Third Straight TranSouth Regular Season Title; Murray and Porter Honored

Jackson, TN--The past few days have been significant for the Lady Bulldogs as they captured their second straight NCCAA MidEast Region Championship.  Also, with their win over Lipscomb University today, Union has won their third consecutive TranSouth Regular Season Championship.  Union came into the game with a 17-1 conference record.  Lipscomb, 16-2 in the conference coming in,  needed to sweep the Lady Bulldogs in this the final two games of the 2001 regular season in order to claim the title.  Union settled the debate early as they defeated the Lady Bison in the first game 8-0 in 5 innings.  Murray improved her season record to 25-2.  

Rachel Murray and Johnna Porter have been selected as the NCCAA National Pitcher and Player of the Week.  Murray was also honored with the TranSouth Pitcher of the Week selection, this was her third of the season and Union's sixth in a row.

Rachel Murray, a junior from Herrin, Illinois went 3-0 on the week which included a No-Hitter and two one-hitters.  Murray struck-out 10 batters in her no-hitter over Freed-Hardeman.  On the week Murray struck-out 34 batters and gave up only the two hits and one run in 18 innings pitched.  Rachel is now 26-2 on the season with 25 complete games and 16 shutouts.  During this 2001 season, Murray has tallied 254 strikeouts and has a impressive .42 ERA.

Johnna Porter, Union's sophomore third baseman, hit .643 on the week (9-14) with two doubles, one homerun, and six RBI.  Porter scored seven runs on the week as she helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to their second NCCAA MidEast Region Title.  Porter, a native of Mountain Grove, Missouri is hitting .333 for the season with three homeruns, 31 RBI, 31 Runs, and nine doubles.

Up next for the Lady Bulldogs will be the NCCAA National Tournament in Marion, Illinois where Union has finished second in each of the last two seasons.  Then will be the TranSouth Conference Tournament in Nashville, TN during the first week of May.  On May 9-11, Union will host the NAIA Region XI Tournament with the winner traveling to Decatur, Alabama for the NAIA Softball World Series.

#DOGS#