From Washington University Athletics
Washington University in St. Louis senior outfielder Maggie Ingell and senior designated player Kelsey Neal were named to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-America Division III Softball Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Neal is a first-team selection this year after earning second-team honors in 2013 and third-team accolades in 2012. She joins Liz Swary as the only player in school history to earn three Academic All-America citations. Ingell, a second-team selection, becomes the seventh softball student-athlete in the 15-year history of the program to earn Academic All-America honors.
"Both Maggie and Kelsey displayed the passion and discipline necessary to become exceptional student -athletes right from the very beginning of their collegiate careers," said Washington U. head coach Leticia Pineda-Boutté. "Not only were they instrumental in our program winning more than 120 games during careers, they led the way academically as well, which should serve as an excellent example for our future players to follow. These two young ladies being recognized as Academic All-Americans is the culmination of two extraordinary collegiate careers."
Ingell, a second-team National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Midwest Region and first-team University Athletic Association (UAA) honoree, led the Bears with a .438 batting average, tallying 17 doubles, eight home runs and 48 RBIs. She also led the team in runs scored with 48, tied for the most in school history, and was third in the UAA with 64 hits.
Ingell had 14 multiple-RBI and 18 multiple-hit games, and ranked in the top-five in the conference in nine categories. She finished her career ranked in the top-10 in all 14 offensive categories, including the all-time Washington U. leader in runs scored (160), hits (221), games played (178) and at-bats (545). Ingell is a four-time all-UAA and NFCA All-Midwest Region selection. A two-time first-team Capital One Academic All-District and three-time Academic All-UAA honoree, she graduated with a 3.84 GPA with a major in religious studies.
Neal, a second-team all-UAA and honorable-mention NFCA All-Midwest Region selection, batted .352 with 10 doubles, seven home runs and 46 RBIs in her senior season. She was also second on the team with 17 multiple-hit and 12 multiple-RBI games. Neal posted an 8-5 record with a 3.04 ERA on the mound, and allowed a UAA-low 14 walks in 100 2/3 innings pitched.
A member of the UAA Championship All-Tournament Team, she was fifth in the UAA in RBIs (46). A two-time all-UAA and NFCA All-Midwest Region selection, Neal finished her four-year career ranked third in school history in RBIs (146), fourth in home runs (24), seventh in doubles (37) and eighth in hits (173). A three-time first-team Capital One Academic All-District and Academic All-UAA selection, Neal graduated with a 3.91 GPA with majors in economics and finance.
In order to be selected to an Academic All-America team, a student-athlete must demonstrate success on the playing field and in the classroom, with academic and athletic achievements taken into consideration. The student-athlete must possess a minimum 3.30 GPA and be at least a sophomore in academic standing.
Washington University finished the 2014 season with a 31-17 overall record, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time in the last 13 years. The Bears also won their eighth UAA title after finishing in a three-way tie at the 2014 UAA Championship Tournament with a 5-3 mark.