WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball program held its annual banquet Sunday following its final home series of the 2018 season. The Boilermakers celebrated five graduating seniors as well as a few distinguished student-athletes.
The first of Purdue's nine accolades was awarded to Jenny Behan. The junior transfer won Standout Performance in a Single Event for her 2-for-3 game against Northwestern on April 7 in which she recorded two home runs, four runs batted in, a walk, four assists and a putout to fuel a 6-3 victory over the Wildcats.
Behan was also named Co-Offensive Catalyst of the Year along with Stephanie Ramsey for their contributions at the plate this season. Behan is hitting .303 with a .549 slugging percentage and a .324 on-base percentage while Ramsey owns a .320 batting average a .420 slugging percentage and a .348 on-base percentage. Ramsey leads the Boilermakers with 48 hits to go along with her 14 runs scored, 23 RBI, six doubles and three home runs. Behan has 43 hits in her first season as a Boilermaker with 25 runs scored, 29 RBI, 10 doubles, two triples and seven home runs.
Ramsey was also awarded the Gold Glove for being the anchor and leader on defense for Purdue. She has 71 assists and 95 putouts in 2018 with six double plays and just six errors in 172 chances, giving her a .965 fielding percentage. Her impact on defense combined with her consistency at the plate this season made Ramsey the unanimous selection as this year's Most Valuable Player.
Two more Boilermakers recognized for her efforts at the plate were outfielders Morgan Cavinder and Ryleigh Scott. Cavinder earned the Clutch Hitter of the Year award as she always seemed to come up with a hit in pinch-hit situations, including her walk-off single in the seventh against Texas Tech to earn Purdue a 4-3 victory. Scott has led Big Ten freshmen in hits throughout the season and has manned centerfield with ease in order to earn the Newcomer of the Year award. Scott has 45 hits with 20 runs scored and a team-low eight strikeouts thus far and she leads Purdue with eight stolen bases on the year.
Sydney Bates and Kaitlynn Moody Co-Pitchers of the Year as the two workhorses shoulder the majority of Purdue's innings this season. Bates has thrown 145 innings while Moody has fought through injury to deliver 127.1 innings of work. The duo accounts for 13 of Purdue's 14 wins in 2018 with 18 complete games combined.
Purdue's final two awards went to two student-athletes who embody what it means to be a Boilermaker as Amanda Jacobson took home the Boilermaker Pride award and Madison Douglass earned this year's GFDF award. Jacobson earned the Boilermaker Pride award for excellence in the classroom, on the field, in the weight room and for being a great example of what it means to be a teammate. Douglass took home the GFDF award for being an exceptional example of someone who excels in all four pillars of the Purdue Softball culture - Grit, Family, Discipline, and Fortitude.
