Molinari and Eddy Receive USCAA All-American Honorable Mention; Six Land on All-Academic Team

AKRON, Ohio—Seven players from the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team were honored at the banquet commencing the 2015 United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championships as Cassandra Molinari (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) and Erica Eddy (Glendale, N.Y./Christ the King) received All-American honorable mention while Eddy, Kristin Ferrigno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney), Samantha Simon (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney), Samantha Rossi (Bayside, N.Y./Mary Louis), Maria Randazzo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall) and Kristen Candelaria (Jamaica, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) were named to the National All-Academic Team.

Molinari receives USCAA year-end honors for the second straight year, driving in a team-high 27 RBI this season and scoring 25 runs. The senior catcher/second baseman hit .302 and slugged 32 hits, including six doubles. Molinari appeared in all 39 games this season and was named to the 2015 All-HVIAC Team for her standout performance.

Eddy had an outstanding rookie campaign compiling a .348 batting average to go along with a .442 on-base percentage and .470 slugging. The junior catcher/second baseman produced 17 RBI to go along with 20 runs, 23 hits, six doubles and one triple.

Ferrigno amassed team highs in runs (36) and hits (40) this season setting the table as the Lady Bears leadoff hitter with a .381 batting average and .484 on-base percentage. The sophomore third baseman appeared in all 39 games for St. Joseph's this season, driving in 19 runs and stealing 10 bases. Ferrigno also was named to the All-HVIAC Softball team.

Simon produced 21 RBI and scored 35 runs compiling a .330 batting average with a .444 on-base percentage. Appearing in all 39 games this season, the sophomore shortstop also drew a team-best 19 walks and swiped a team-high 13 bases, third most in the conference. Simon was named the HVIAC Tournament MVP after leading the Lady Bears to the title, finishing 4-for-6 with one triple.

Rossi ranked second on the Lady Bears with 26 RBI, batting .354, connected for 34 hits, including five doubles and two triples. The sophomore outfielder appeared in all 39 games this season, also scoring 24 runs and slugging .448. Rossi was an All-HVIAC honoree for the second straight year.

Randazzo has compiled a .387 batting average with a .500 on base percentage over 23 games played, amassing nine RBI and nine runs scored. The junior receives All-Academic honors for the second straight season.

Candelaria boasted a .400 batting average and .532 on base percentage in 34 contests, scoring 17 runs while driving in 11 and swiping five bases.

Eddy, Ferrigno and Candelaria also collected USCAA All-Academic honors in March as members of the women's basketball team.

The Lady Bears will open their first appearance at the USCAA National Championships since 2012 as the No. 7 seed facing No. 10 Cincinnati-Clermont on Monday at noon. Live stats and video will be available on SJCBears.com