Carter and Lovelace Receive NFCA All-Region Honors

2015 NFCA NAIA All-Region Teams I Taylor Honors Page

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has announced the 2015 All-Region teams, with Taylor softball's Davis Carter and Alex Lovelace both receiving recognition as first team performers in the Great Lakes Region.

Carter had an excellent freshman season playing primarily at catcher and in the designated player role. Carter played in 49 games and started in 46, usually slotted in the No. 5 spot in the Taylor batting order. Hitting from the right side, she was seventh in the Crossroads League in batting average (.429) while leading the team in RBI (51) and slugging percentage (.701).

Carter was one of three Trojans to total nine home runs on the year along with Lauren Ehle and Morgan Allison, which ranked No. 3 in the Crossroads League. Carter's power numbers were backed up by her ability to consistently put the ball into play, as she was retired by strikeout just four times all season long. Her 51 RBI ranked No. 5 in the Crossroads League and 44th overall in the nation. Carter's numbers were particularly impressive at home on Gudakunst Field, helping Taylor to a 14-4 record by batting .644 with six home runs, 22 RBI, a slugging percentage of 1.156, on-base percentage of .660 and 15 runs scored.

Amongst other season highlights, Carter was able to put together a ten-game hitting streak coinciding with Taylor's ten consecutive victories from April 14 to April 24. She was named the Crossroads League Player of the Week for her play from March 30 through April 5 and had two games with five RBI (Goshen – 4/10, Bethel – 4/24) and two multi-home run games (Webber International – 1/26, Goshen – 4/10). Finally, Carter produced two or more hits in 21 contests and was an All-Crossroads League selection following her first season with Taylor.

Lovelace earned the recognition for the second time in as many seasons, as the 2014 NAIA Second-Team All-American and Crossroads League Player of the Year made big contributions once again in centerfield and from the plate as Taylor's leadoff hitter, starting in all 52 games as a sophomore in 2015.

Lovelace ranked No. 7 in the nation with a total of 82 hits, averaging nearly 1.58 knocks per game, which is sixth most in the NAIA. The left-handed batter led Taylor in batting average (.448), on-base percentage (.507), runs scored (50), walks (22) and stolen bases (18). Her .448 batting average was the fourth-highest mark in the Crossroads League and she produced 27 multi-hit games. Lovelace started the season with a 14 game hitting streak and had an 11 game hitting stretch later in the season which also coincided with Taylor's ten consecutive victories from April 14 to April 24.

The centerfielder has yet to make an error in her collegiate career and was one of two Trojans to earn a Golden Glove award along with teammate Ashley Miller at first base. Lovelace performed well in the Crossroads League Tournament to be named to the All-Tournament Team, helping Taylor advance to make its second consecutive tournament final appearance. In 2015 Lovelace was also a two-time league Player of the Week, a First-Team All-Crossroads League selection, and a member of the Capital One Academic All-District II First-Team.

Carter and Lovelace are both from Greenwood, Indiana and attended Greenwood Community High School prior to coming to TU.

For the complete list of the All-Region Teams as announced by the NFCA, please follow the link above. Also provided is the Taylor Athletic Honors page, which lists individual athletic accomplishments for all Taylor athletes over the last three years.