With a record of 36-11 in the 2006 season, the Emory Eagles recorded their sixth consecutive 30 win season and returned to the NCAA tournament reaching the NCAA Regional championship game. The Eagles finished the season ranked No. 19 in the nation by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

Emory was among the best in the nation in fielding, hitting and pitching. The Eagles led the nation in fielding percentage for the second straight year, equaling least season's .978 percentage. Emory was also 13th in earned run average and 15th in batting average with averages of 1.30 and .346, respectively.

The Eagles made the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in six years falling to a team that would eventually finish third in the nation. The Eagles finished second in the Salem, Va. Regional, the second seeded of eight regions in the tournament.

The Eagles opened up the regional tournament with wins over Thomas More College (Ky.) and host team Roanoke College (Va.) before falling 4-3 to top-seeded Muskingum College (Ohio) who were ranked No. 2 in the nation. Another win over Roanoke, seeded second in the region, set up a championship game against Muskingum, but the Eagles fell 2-0.

The Eagle failed to earn the automatic bid to the tournament after finishing second with a 6-2 record in the University Athletic Association (UAA) Tournament in Atlamonte Springs, Fla. Instead, it was stellar regional play that earned the Eagles their NCAA bid.

In the regular season, the Eagles were 27-4 in regional non-conference games including a season-long nine-game winning streak, all of which was against regional opponents. During that stretch the Eagles outscored opponents 89 to 5. The Eagles set team records for runs scored and runs scored in the first inning with their 25-0 win over Agnes Scott College (Ga.) which started with a 17-run first inning.

The Eagles were led by co-captain Emily Sunshine, the team's only senior, who was earned the fourth All-America selection in Eagle history. Sunshine, who tied for first in the nation with 11 triples in the season, was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America third team. Sunshine also led the team in slugging percentage, .640, and runs scored, 41. Her 11 triples tied the Emory season record.

Sunshine was one of three Eagles to earn First Team All-UAA, the others being Sarah Morse and Ashley Tobar. Kim Bandy, Kathy Gordon and Lauren Haag were named to the second team.

The Eagles put five players on Louisville Slugger/NFCA Atlantic All-Region teams. Sunshine earned first team honors, while Morse and Gordon were named to the second team, and Bandy and Haag made the third team.

Junior co-captain Morse also helped to shoulder the load offensively. Morse earned the team triple crown leading the Eagles in batting average, runs batted in and home runs. Morse also earned Academic All-America honors making the third team for the second consecutive year.

Other major offensive contributions were made by power hitting freshmen Bandy and Carey Smith-Marchi. Bandy was second on the team in doubles and RBI while Smith-Marchi led the team in doubles and finished second in slugging percentage and triples.

The Eagles pitching was again carried by the class of 2008. All three Eagles pitchers were sophomores. Gordon led the staff with a 19-3 record and 161 strikeouts and ranked 23rd in the nation with a 1.09 earned run average. Tobar posted an 11-5 record for the season and a 1.29 earned run average. Lauren Eaves had a 1.85 ERA and a 6-3 record giving all three Eagle pitchers winning records and ERAs under two.

The Eagles' top 20 finish was their fourth in the last five years. Other than their first year of varsity competition in 1999, the Eagles have never failed to post a winning record or finish in the top two of the UAA.

The following Eagles received post-season honors:

Written by A.J. Gochenaur, Emory Sports Information Assistant