Oklahoma’s Alo named 2018 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Oklahoma’s Jocelyn Alo has been named the 2018 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year announced at the NCAA Women’s College World Series banquet on Tuesday evening from the OKC Farmers Market event center.
Alo, a first-team All-Central selection, is having a monstrous rookie season at the plate. The utility player leads the NCAA with 28 home runs and in long balls per game at 0.48. Additionally, Alo ranks third nationally in slugging (.970), second in total bases (159) and fourth in RBI (71) and RBI per game (1.20). The Big 12 Freshman of the Year finished conference play first in home runs (9), walks (17), runs scored (18), RBI (25), total bases (46) and slugging percentage (.979), while second in on-base percentage (.554). Alo, a product of Hauula, Hawai’i, leads the Sooners with a .415 batting average and .545 on-base percentage.
Alo is the second Sooner to win the award as current teammate, senior Paige Parker took home the honors in 2015. Along with the Parker, 2016 recipient Amanda Lorenz of Florida and 2017 winner Rachel Garcia of UCLA are all participating in this year’s Women’s College World Series.
Joining Alo as finalists is Michigan pitcher Meghan Beaubia and Arkansas hurler Mary Haff.
In its fifth year, the Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. The top three and the finalists are voted on by the NFCA’s Division I All-American Committee, consisting of one coach from each of the Association’s 10 regions.
Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year
2018 – Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma
2017 – Rachel Garcia, UCLA
2016 – Amanda Lorenz, Florida
2015 – Paige Parker, Oklahoma
2014 – Annie Aldrete, Tennessee & Kasey Cooper, Auburn