HOUSTON – Six Wichita State softball student-athletes landed American Athletic All-Conference honors Wednesday afternoon, highlighted by four first team selections.

Senior Laurie Derrico, juniors Madison Perrigan and Ryleigh Buck and freshman Sydney McKinney were named First Team All-Conference, while sophomore Erin McDonald represented the Shockers on the All-Conference Second Team. After her stellar freshman campaign, McKinney was also chosen for the All-Rookie Team.

Derrico has been an all-conference performer in three of her four years at Wichita State, including a First Team selection each of the last two seasons. The Sterling, Okla., native hit .272 with seven home runs, 10 doubles and 30 RBI, while scoring a team-best 44 runs as a senior. For the second straight season, Derrico has started all 55 games at shortstop and is currently tied for the most home runs in school history at 39. Her next home run would put her in sole possession of first place and pass former Shocker standout Cacy Williams.

Perrigan was a stalwart behind the plate for Wichita State once again this season, starting all 55 games and leading the team in batting average (.338), home runs (11), doubles (15), RBI (43) and walks (40). Her offensive numbers place her in the top five in several categories in The American: first in home runs, RBI, total bases, walks, second in slugging percentage and runs scored, third in doubles and fifth in on base percentage. In conference games only, Perrigan hit .371 with five home runs, eight doubles, 20 runs scored and 21 RBI.

A Wellington, Kan., native, Buck performed at an all-conference level for the second straight season after earning second team honors a year ago. She ranks second on the team in home runs with nine, while hitting .304 with two triples, six doubles, 36 RBI and 33 runs scored. In league play, Buck hit .323 with a team-best six round trippers and 18 runs batted in.

McKinney rounds out the first team selections after posting a .329 batting average (second on the team), one home run, eight doubles, 12 RBI and 32 runs scored. Against conference opponents her numbers only got better. She hit nearly .400 with five doubles and 20 runs scored, batting in the leadoff position.

McDonald, a Norman, Okla., native pitched her best against the league opponents. She started 12 games and threw 10 complete games (three shutouts) in 85.2 innings to finish with a 2.04 ERA. In two of her last four starts, both against teams ranked No. 25 (Tulsa and USF), she threw one-hit shutouts. For the entire season, McDonald is 14-12 with a 2.98 ERA in 178.2 innings to go with 111 strikeouts and 14 complete games.

Wichita State has had at least one first team selection in each of the last seven seasons, and sixth straight with multiple.

2019 American Athletic Conference Softball Award Winners
 
Players of the Year
Sarah Barker, Houston
Julia Hollingsworth, Tulsa
 
Pitcher of the Year
Georgina Corrick, USF
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Macy Cook, USF
 
Rookie of the Year
Chenise Delce, Tulsa
 
Coaching Staff of the Year
USF
 
All-Conference First Team
P – Georgina Corrick, USF (unanimous)
P – Alea White, UCF
C – Madison Perrigan, Wichita State
1B – Ashley Threatt, Memphis
1B – Ryleigh Buck, Wichita State
2B – Arielle James, Houston
3B – Sydney McKinney, Wichita State
SS – Laurie Derrico, Wichita State
SS – Briana Marcelino, UConn
OF – Julia Hollingsworth, Tulsa (unanimous)
OF – Maya Thomas, Houston
OF – Sarah Barker, Houston
OF – AnaMarie Bruni, USF
DP/UTL (Pitcher) – Savannah Heebner, Houston
DP/UTL (Pitcher) – Chenise Delce, Tulsa
DP/UTL (Non-Pitcher) – Olivia Sappington, UConn

All-Conference Second Team
P – Presley Bell, Houston
P – Samantha Pochop, Tulsa
P – Erin McDonald, Wichita State
C – Cassady Brewer, UCF
C – Rylie Spell, Tulsa
INF – Morgan Neal, Tulsa
INF – Lindsey Devitt, USF
INF – Alyssa Dean, Memphis
INF – Carli Cutler, UConn
OF – Reese Guevarra, UConn
OF – Haley Meinen, Tulsa
OF – Baylee Smith, Memphis
DP/UTL – Brooke Hartman, USF

All-Rookie Team
Damaria Cannon, OF/DP, UCF
Karissa Ornelas, C/DP, UCF
Breanna Vasquez, P, UCF
Alexis Lemus, 2B, UConn
Alyssa Dean, 2B, Memphis
Meghan Sheehan, OF, USF
Chenise Delce, P/DP, Tulsa
Sydney McKinney, 3B, Wichita State