The 2007 Emory University softball team used a torrid second half of the season to notch the program's seventh straight 30-plus win season.  In addition to the team's final won-lost mark of 33-8, the Eagles recorded an array of noteworthy accomplishments including the following:

** The program's sixth berth in the nine-year history of the program to the NCAA Tournament

** The third-ever trip to the NCAA Division III National Championships

** A championship performance in the NCAA Regionals hosted by Methodist College, going a perfect 4-0

** A No. 7 national ranking in the final NFCA Top 25 poll

** An 18-game winning streak that represented the second-longest effort in school history

** Seasonal school records in on-base percentage (.417), stolen base percentage (.979, 47-of-48) and home runs (21)

** Ranking nationally in a number of statistical categories including batting average (18th, .343), ERA (7th, 1.50), fielding percentage (t-1st .974), winning percentage (14th, 33-8, .805) and slugging percentage (37th, .479).

With sound leadership provided by the senior trio of Sarah Morse, Lauren Haag and Betsy Bruinsma, the Eagles earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.  The Eagles, seeded No. 5 in the Fayetteville Regional, defeated No. 4 seed Salisbury in the opening game, 5-4 in nine innings.  Emory then topped No. 1 seed and host Methodist University, 2-1, in its second game.  The Eagles continued through the winners bracket with a 2-0 triumph over Lynchburg which put them in the enviable position of having to win just one more game to advance to the nationals.  Emory did just that with a decisive 9-1 decision over Lynchburg.

In the national championship, the Eagles got off to a rough start as No. 2-ranked Linfield College came away with an 11-0 win.  Emory rebounded and stayed alive in the double-elimination format with a 12-3 rout of Moravian.  However, the Eagles' run ended their following game when UW-Eau Claire registered a tight 3-1 decision.

Junior second baseman Alison Braverman, a key catalyst in the Emory offense all season long, became the fifth player in school history to earn All-America honors. A starter in all 39 games she appeared in, Braverman was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America third team.  The Elmhurst, Illinois, native finished second on the squad and No. 27 in the nation in batting with a .466 average.  The team leader with 13 doubles, she fashioned 16 multi-hit contests and finished tied for first on the club in home runs (4) and tied for second in hits (55).  Braverman garnered first-team nods to both the All-Atlantic Region and All-University Athletic Association Teams.  A solid performer in the field, she handled 98.3 percent of her fielding chances (117 of 119) successfully.

Cassie Walsh enjoyed a spectacular freshman season, landing First Team All-Atlantic Region acclaim as well as UAA Rookie of the Year honors.  Walsh, one of four Emory players to earn First Team All-UAA honors, concluded the 2007 campaign with a team and UAA-leading .484 batting average, good for 14th nationally.  Walsh's average was the second-highest mark in Emory history behind Lauren Dix's effort of .489 in 2000.  A starter in 39 of the Eagles' 41 contests, Walsh compiled 19 multi-hit contests, paced the club in hits with 59 and was successful on all 10 of her stolen base attempts.

Sophomore first baseman Kim Bandy swung a big bat for Emory throughout the year, hitting for a hefty .451 average that placed her No. 3 on the team and fourth among UAA performers.  Bandy, a first-team selection to both the All-UAA and All-Atlantic Region Teams, paced the team in a number of offensive categories including runs scored (40), triples (5), RBIs (35) and slugging percentage (.705).  Bandy's batting average and slugging percentage ranked ninth and fifth, respectively, on Emory's seasonal chart.  In addition, she posted a perfect mark of 13-for-13 in her base-stealing attempts, tying for second on the school's listing. Bandy was a stalwart in the field as well, handling 230-of-232 opportunities (.991).

Senior third baseman Sarah Morse closed out a fine career in 2007, hitting for a .336 average while totaling 34 RBIs, good for a second-place tie on the squad.  Morse, a starter in all 40 games she appeared in, garnered second-team recognition to both the All-UAA and All-Atlantic Region Teams.  Career-wise, Morse started 153 of 155 contests and finished with a classy .371 batting average, good for seventh place on the school's all-time chart.  Morse etched her name in numerous Emory career categories including fourth in RBIs (128), eighth in runs scored (102) and slugging percentage (.503), sixth in hits (172), tied for second in homers (12) and ninth in doubles (23).  Morse distinguished herself as well on the academic front, earning a First-Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America berth with a 3.88 GPA while pursing her degree in American History and Literature.

Senior left fielder Betsy Bruinsma provided a steady influence on the squad and started all 38 games she saw action in.  Bruinsma batted .271 and went six-for-six in the stolen base department.  Another game-tested veteran, she started 164 of 165 games and ended her career in seventh place on the school's most games played list.  She crossed the plate 102 times, good for seventh place on Emory's all-time chart, while her 154 career hits were good for ninth place.  Finally, she finished third all-time among Emory performers with 32 stolen bases.

After getting off to a slow start offensively, senior shortstop Lauren Haag hit safely in nine of the last 11 games of the season, recording a .407 average in that stretch.  A starter in all 39 games she took the field in, Haag was chosen to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team after picking up five hits in four games.  Lauren ended the year second on the team in walks (14) while accounting for a team-best 14 sacrifice hits.  During her tenure as a member of the Eagles' program, Haag played in 155 games, 147 in a starting capacity, and finished with 106 hits, good for the No. 10 position on the school's all-time list.

On the mound, Emory was led by the junior tandem of Ashley Tobar and Kathy Gordon.  Tobar, a First Team All-UAA choice, closed the year with a won-lost ledger of 14-3 and an ERA of 1.32 that placed her No. 3 among UAA hurlers and 27th nationally.  Tobar, a Third Team All-Atlantic selection, tossed 122 innings and struck out 86 batters. She was an NCAA Regional All-Tournament honoree after making appearances in all four games and surrendering two earned runs in 18 innings of work.  Career-wise, Ashley has notched 33 wins, good for the No. 4 position on the school's list. 

Gordon fashioned a 16-5 record that included a no-hitter.  She tossed 10 complete games and recorded five outings of 10 more strike outs including a pair of career-high tying 14 Ks. A Second Team All-Atlantic Region pick, Gordon ended the campaign No. 3 among UAA pitchers in strike outs with 143, good for the No. 2 spot on the Eagles' seasonal chart.  Kathy's 8.65 strike outs per game average (per 7 innings) established a school seasonal record and placed her in a tie for 24th place nationally.  Through three years of competition, Gordon is No. 3 among all-time Emory players in wins with a 50-33 record.  In addition, she is No. 1 in career strike outs (387) and tied with Tobar for the No. 2 slot in ERA (1.26).