FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2001

Union Softball Makes Sweep of TranSouth Post-Season Honors:
Seven Players on All-Conference Team

Jackson, TN--The Lady Bulldogs added to their honor filled season by capturing the top three honors from the TranSouth Conference.  Rachel Murray was named the conference Pitcher of the Year while Jennifer Sabourin was honored as the conference Player of the Year.  Head Coach Brian Dunn was named the Coach of the Year in the TranSouth.  The 55-5 Lady Bulldogs had seven members make the All-Conference team.  Pitcher Rachel Murray, pitcher Leah Gronberg, catcher and designated hitter Jennifer Sabourin, catcher Ame Clapsaddle, shortstop Brandi Park, third base Johnna Porter, and second base Michelle Gardner.  

Junior right-hander, Rachel Murray received her second straight TranSouth Conference Pitcher of the Year award.  On the season, Murray is 30-3 with a miniscule 0.39 ERA.  She has struck out 316 batters in 217.1 innings pitched.  She led the conference in every pitching category.  Murray also had a successful season at the plate as she hit .368 with 44 RBI.  

Jennifer Sabourin, a senior from West Branch, Indiana was named the TranSouth Player of the Year.  She led Union and the TranSouth in batting average.  Sabourin hit .464 on the season with 19 doubles, seven homeruns, and 64 RBI.  She has a .738 slugging percentage.  

For the second straight season, Brian Dunn has been named the conference Coach of the Year.  Dunn has led the Lady Bulldogs to their third straight regular season title.  Under Coach Dunn, Union has tallied four straight 50 plus win seasons, five straight region tournaments, three NCCAA MidEast Region championships, and one NCCAA National Title.  The Lady Bulldogs made their first and only appearance in the NAIA World Series in 1999.

The Lady Bulldogs have put up impressive numbers this season which has kept them in the Top 5 of the NAIA all season.  Union held the No. 2 spot for two weeks which is the highest ever ranking for the Lady Bulldogs.

Union University is the site of this year's NAIA Region XI Tournament.  Union will come in at the No. 1 seed and will have a bye in the first round.  Second seeded, Lipscomb University out of Nashville is the only other TranSouth member to make the tournament.  Union will open the tournament at 3:00 PM on Wednesday vs. the winner of the Georgetown, KY/Cumberland, TN winner.  

#DOGS#