WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue softball seniors Rachel Becker and Alex Echazarreta received National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region honors. For the second consecutive year, Becker earned first team, while Echazarreta received a second team nod.
The results marked the third straight year multiple Boilermakers received all-region accolades.
Becker, who received the honor at the shortstop position, closed out her Boilermaker career as Purdue's all-time leader in runs (149). Meanwhile, not only did her .429 batting average this season top the Big Ten, marking the second straight year she has led the conference, she became just the fifth player in Big Ten history to accomplish the feat in back-to-back seasons. Moreover, her season batting average was the third-highest in program history. During Big Ten play, Becker owned a .517 batting average, good for No. 3 all-time in the Big Ten annals.
Nationally, Becker ranks 17th in batting average (.429), 21st in on-base % (.522) and 45th in hits (66).
Echazarreta earned second team honors in the utility/pitcher position. In her breakout season, Echazarreta posted a 3.60 ERA, 10 wins and four complete games over 105 innings in the circle. Among the righty's complete games, the Reston, Virginia, native shut out No. 22 USF on its home tur, allowing just two hits in the program's first top-25 victory since 2009.
Offensively, Echazarreta blasted seven home runs, the most by a Boilermaker in a single season since 2019, and guided the team's way to registering the most home runs by a Purdue team since 2007's record-setting year (34 homers in 2022). Echazarreta rounded out her time at the plate with a .578 slugging % and .336 batting average, second only on the team to Becker.
Echazarreta is set to return for a fifth year, granted due to COVID-19.
Both Becker and Echazarreta will move on as eligible student-athletes for the All-America squads (voted on by committee), which will be announced on Wednesday, June 1.
The results marked the third straight year multiple Boilermakers received all-region accolades.
Becker, who received the honor at the shortstop position, closed out her Boilermaker career as Purdue's all-time leader in runs (149). Meanwhile, not only did her .429 batting average this season top the Big Ten, marking the second straight year she has led the conference, she became just the fifth player in Big Ten history to accomplish the feat in back-to-back seasons. Moreover, her season batting average was the third-highest in program history. During Big Ten play, Becker owned a .517 batting average, good for No. 3 all-time in the Big Ten annals.
Nationally, Becker ranks 17th in batting average (.429), 21st in on-base % (.522) and 45th in hits (66).
Echazarreta earned second team honors in the utility/pitcher position. In her breakout season, Echazarreta posted a 3.60 ERA, 10 wins and four complete games over 105 innings in the circle. Among the righty's complete games, the Reston, Virginia, native shut out No. 22 USF on its home tur, allowing just two hits in the program's first top-25 victory since 2009.
Offensively, Echazarreta blasted seven home runs, the most by a Boilermaker in a single season since 2019, and guided the team's way to registering the most home runs by a Purdue team since 2007's record-setting year (34 homers in 2022). Echazarreta rounded out her time at the plate with a .578 slugging % and .336 batting average, second only on the team to Becker.
Echazarreta is set to return for a fifth year, granted due to COVID-19.
Both Becker and Echazarreta will move on as eligible student-athletes for the All-America squads (voted on by committee), which will be announced on Wednesday, June 1.