GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – When the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) announced its postseason award winners this past week, four Penn State Harrisburg softball players found themselves on the league's list of all-conference selections.  Things were made even sweeter when freshman Rieley Loch (Madison Township, Pa. / North Pocono) was voted as the league's South Division Rookie of the Year.

Senior Kara Boyd (Alexandria, Pa. / Juniata Valley) and sophomore Gabrielle Wolfe (New Milford, Pa. / Blue Ridge) were named to the NEAC's South Division all-conference first-team.  The selection was Boyd's third-straight as a first-team honoree while Wolfe has been a first-team pick each of the past two seasons.  Loch earned second-team all-conference status thanks to her breakout campaign and sophomore Erika Love (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) joined her as a second-team all-conference honoree thanks to her consistency at the plate.

Boyd, one of this year's team captains, was named to the NEAC's South Division all-conference first-team for the third consecutive season.  The pitcher/infielder led the team in wins with ten and batted .343 for the spring, leading the Lions in hits (46), runs scored (31), ERA (3.42) and strikeouts (117).  She was joined as a first-team all-conference honoree by her fellow captain in Wolfe.  The second-year player was the only woman to play in all 40 games and she displayed her versatility as a pitcher, shortstop and the team's lead-off hitter, racking up a team-high 12 doubles, 39 hits and 20 RBIs.  She also won five games inside the circle and accumulated a 3.76 ERA in addition to recording 110 strikeouts.

Loch had a strong first-year campaign, leading the Lions with a .359 batting average and racking up 42 hits and 20 RBIs.  The rest of the league took notice of her efforts and pegged her as a NEAC all-conference second-team selection.  When the voting was all said and done, she was also the South Division's Rookie of the Year.  After missing the early portion of the season due to injury, Love was one of the Penn State Harrisburg's most consistent hitters as the spring wound down.  Despite playing in just 29 contests, her .344 batting average was second only to Loch and she led the Blue & White with 25 RBIs.

In addition to Loch earning the NEAC South Division Rookie of the Year award, Penn State Berks freshman Jess Epler was named the South Division's Player of the Year, Penn State Abington sophomore Michaela Drogalis earned Pitcher of the Year status and her skipper, David Hoch, was voted South Division Coach of the Year by his peers.