STEPHENVILLE — Tarleton State Softball placed three student-athletes on the All-WAC teams, highlighted by First Team selections for Shelby Schultz and Jaelynn Duke, the conference office announced on Tuesday. Casey Schultz also earned All-WAC Second Team honors following a strong season for the Texans.
Shelby Schultz, a sophomore left-hander, has been a dominant force in the circle for Tarleton State throughout the season. Serving as a consistent anchor in the pitching staff, Schultz has delivered in key moments and against top conference competition, establishing herself as one of the premier arms in the WAC.
Shelby Schultz heads into postseason play with a record of 17-5, the most wins in the conference. She also ranks second in the WAC in complete games (12), games started (24), saves (3), shutouts (3), strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.55), strikeouts (117), WHIP (1.24), and walks allowed per seven innings (1.59).
In her sophomore season, the ace posted a 2.98 ERA across 34 appearances and 24 starts, logging 145.2 innings with 12 complete games and five individual and combined shutouts. Shelby Schultz struck out a team high 117 batters and limited her opponents to a .261 batting average.
Duke also secured a spot on the All-WAC First Team after putting together an impressive campaign both at the plate and in the circle. Duke has been a steady offensive presence for Tarleton State, producing in clutch situations while leading the lineup with her consistency and power.
Duke put together one of the most productive offensive seasons in the WAC, finishing top-10 in multiple categories. She ranked second in RBI with 51 while adding 14 doubles (third) and 11 home runs (sixth). Duke also ranked third in sacrifice flies with four. In addition to her offensive impact, she made her presence felt in the circle as well, ranking third in the conference with just 1.99 walks allowed per seven innings, further underscoring her value as a true two-way contributor for the Texans.
Duke powered the Texans’ offense with a breakout season at the plate, hitting .333 (57-for-171) with 38 runs scored, 14 doubles, 11 home runs and a team-high 51 RBI across 55 starts. She racked up 104 total bases and posted a .608 slugging percentage, consistently delivering extra-base power and run production in the heart of the lineup. Duke also drew 17 walks and added four sacrifice flies. Duke also made valuable contributions in the circle, posting a 6-5 record with a 3.23 ERA across 19 appearances and three starts. She logged 56.1 innings, issuing just 16 walks while striking out 19 and limiting opponents to a .284 batting average.
Casey Schultz earned All-WAC Second Team honors following a strong all-around season. Casey Schultz has been a key contributor both offensively and defensively, providing reliability and production for the Texans. Her efforts throughout the year have helped propel Tarleton State into contention in the conference standings.
Casey Schultz delivered a strong offensive season for the Texans, hitting .315 (41-for-130) with 29 runs scored, 10 doubles and a team-high 12 home runs, tied for second in the conference, while driving in 36 RBI across 50 appearances. She totaled 87 bases for a .669 slugging percentage, showcasing consistent power production in the middle of the lineup. Casey Schultz also drew 17 walks and added to her on-base presence, finishing as one of Tarleton State’s top power hitters and run producers throughout the season.
The trio played a pivotal role in Tarleton State’s success during the regular season, helping to lead the Texans to their best Division I regular season record of 35-21.
Tarleton State now turns its focus to the WAC Tournament, set to begin this week in Stephenville, where the Texans will look to build on their momentum and make a run at a conference championship. The Purple and White will open tournament play on Thursday, taking on the winner of UT Arlington and Utah Tech at 1 p.m.
Be the first to comment