May 6, 2015 All-Big Ten Teams
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State softball junior outfielders Lexi Knief (Ramsey, N.J.) and Macy Jones (Ashburn, Va.) were named Second Team All-Big Ten by the conference's coaches on Wednesday. Sophomore third baseman Shelby Miller (Sugar Land, Texas) was selected for the All-Defensive Team. Jones was also represented as the team's sportsmanship award winner.
"We're very pleased that the coaches recognized their hard work," said Head Coach Amanda Lehotak. "Lexi and Macy have represented Penn State very well this year and they are only going to get better going into next year."
Knief was selected as Second Team All-Big Ten for the second straight year. The junior is hitting a team-best .408 overall, including .448 in conference games. Knief also leads the team in hits(71), doubles(14), triples(4) and on-base percentage(.469). Knief has 24 multi-hit games this season, including five games with three or more hits.
The Ramsey, N.J. native is three hits away from the single-season mark at Penn State, held by Nan Sichler(1988). Knief's .408 average would be the fourth-best in a single season in program history.
Jones earned her first career All-Big Ten selection. The Ashburn, Va. native is batting .348, including .373 in Big Ten play. Jones has 56 hits, including nine doubles, two triples and 10 home runs. The junior is second on the team with 43 RBI, a .615 slugging percentage and .451 on-base percentage.
She is one of three Nittany Lions with double-digit home runs. Jones is currently tied for fourth on the single-season home runs list at Penn State and tied for third for RBI in a season.
Jones has also had a solid season in the circle for the blue and white, leading the team with a 3.66 ERA.
The sophomore, Miller, was selected as third baseman on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Miller has a .984 fielding percentage, with 50 putouts and 77 assists, as well as six double plays and only two errors.
Miller has also had a strong season at the plate, hitting .333 with four homers and 33 RBI.
The Nittany Lions are 28-27 overall and 9-14 in Big Ten play. Penn State plays Maryland at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. The game is being televised on BTN plus.