NFCA Release
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association has announced that 389 student-athletes from 164 programs have received 2018 NFCA Division I All-Region accolades, including Missouri State softball first-team honoree Kaitlin Beason and third-team member Holly Kelley.
 
The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first, second and third-team selections. NFCA member coaches from each respective region voted on the teams, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to the 2018 NFCA Division I All-American squads.
 
Ranking third in the Bears' all-time record books with 21 career home runs, Beason is the Bears' first first-team selection since Jessie Smith in 2009. Beason was an All-Missouri Valley Conference second-team and defensive team honoree and was named to the 2018 MVC All-Tournament Team. She started 48 games for the Bears and hit .333 with 24 RBI and a team-high seven home runs.
 
Breaking out as the Bears' ace in the circle, Kelley earned third-team honors after a solid, 12-5 senior campaign. The hurler led the staff with 113 strikeouts in 110 innings pitched and limited batters to a team-low .216 batting average. She leaves MSU with two no-hitters under her belt – one in both of her seasons with the Bears. She posted five shutouts and eight complete games over the 2018 season and nearly doubled her strikeout production from one year ago.
 
Ranging back to 1986, Missouri State has now earned 25 NFCA All-Midwest Region nods.
 
The Bears finished the 2018 campaign with a 32-20 record after finishing second in MVC standings with a 17-9 mark in conference play. For all the latest information on the Missouri State softball team, visit MissouriStateBears.com or follow @MSUSoftball on Twitter.