Hopes were high for the 2012 edition of the Emory softball team and the squad did not disappoint, turning in a number of impressive accomplishments en route to maintaining its status one of the premier programs in the nation.

Emory recorded the program’s 13^th consecutive winning campaign, finishing with an overall record of 34-5.  The team’s win total marked the third time in the last four season that it surpassed the 30-victory plateau and the 10^th time overall.    The Eagles started out the year ranked No. 7 nationally among D-III programs before climbing into the No. 1 spot on April 25, holding that position heading into NCAA Regional play. 

Some of the noteworthy achievements from 2012 included:

** The program’s sixth bid in the past seven seasons and tenth overall to the NCAA Tournament.

** Holding down the No. 13 national ranking in the final NFCA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.

** Bringing home its third straight and sixth overall University Athletic Association Championship, registering a 6-2 record and outscoring the opposition by a 56-17 margin.

** Socking 27 home runs, the second-highest seasonal mark in school annals. The team stood 33^rd nationally in homers per game (0.69).

** Leading the UAA and ranking ninth nationally with a hitting average of .351, good for third place on the Eagles’ seasonal chart.

** Topping league and standing 14^th nationally with a .510 slugging percentage with that performance good for the No. 2 spot on Emory’s seasonal ladder.

** Crafting a conference-best 1.43 ERA, the fourth-best mark in Division III during the campaign.

** Holding down the No. 1 position in the league and standing No. 7 in the D-III ranks, scoring an average of 7.28 runs per game. 

** Leading the UAA and standing 7^th on the national scene in fielding percentage (.971).

Head Coach Penny Siqueiros and her squad get out of the blocks quickly, winning the first six games of the campaign, outscoring those foes by a 62-11 margin.  Included in that streak were a pair of triumphs over then No. 3-ranked Christopher Newport University.  Following a setback against Guilford College in the first game of a twinbill, the Eagles rebounded with a vengeance, rattling off 14 consecutive wins.  The Emory pitching staff shined in that stretch, tossing five shutouts while surrendering two or less runs on four other occasions.

Emory turned in a strong effort at the UAA Championships, winning six of eight contests in bringing home the conference crown back to Atlanta.  Sophomore Megan Light was named the MVP of the league tourney while the Eagles saw a total of five players earn berths on the all-tournament team. 

The Eagles closed out the regular season with a flourish, winning their last 12 games in dominating fashion. Emory recorded four straight whitewashes in doubleheader sweeps of LaGrange College and Agnes Scott while posting two more shutouts in outings against Piedmont and Covenant College.

Emory was sent to Christopher Newport for NCAA Regional action and opened the postseason with a 4-1 victory over McDaniel College.  However, the squad ran into some formidable opposition pitching the next two games, coming out on the short end of 4-2 and 2-0 scores to Roanoke College and Salisbury University, respectively, ending its campaign.

Senior pitcher Bridget Holloway was the mainstay of the Emory pitching staff, posting a won-lost ledger of 18-2 en route to being named the UAA’s Player of the Year.  The lone Eagle to garner First Team All-Atlantic Region accolades, Holloway tossed 128 innings and finished with an ERA of 1.64 that stood 46th among D-III hurlers.  The Sparta, Ill., native made 20 starts and turned in 13 complete games, tying for 11th place on the school's seasonal list.  One of her strengths was her control, placing fourth nationally in fewest walks allowed per 7 innings (0.55).  Career-wise, Holloway’s 61 wins in the circle slotted her in the No. 2 spot on the Eagles' all-time chart.  In addition, she held down the No. 2 position all-time at Emory in appearances (98), games started (72), complete games (45) and innings pitched (476).

Senior left fielder Jessica Thomas wrapped up an outstanding four-year career with a First Team All-UAA berth while landing an all-region second-team spot.  A starter in all 39 of the squad’s contests, she hit .390
(46-of-118), good for first place among the Emory starters and seventh in the UAA.  Thomas totaled 46 safeties, second on the team, and her team-high 15 doubles tied for third place among UAA performers and tied for the No. 6 position on the Eagles' all-time season list.  During her power-packed stint with the program, she saw in action in 160 games, 159 as a starter, and totaled a school-record 26 home runs.  Her 196 career hits placed her seventh all-time at Emory while her 151 RBIs ranked third.

Sophomore Megan Light enjoyed another big offensive season en route to earning Third Team All-Atlantic Region honors. A starter in 38 of 39 contests, she finished second on the club in hitting with a .388 average (47-of-121) while pacing the team with 47 hits, seven home runs (fourth on Emory's seasonal list) and 39 RBIs .  Emory’s co-leader with 13 multi-hit outings, she was named the MVP of the UAA Tournament after helping the Eagles to the conference crown by hitting .458.  After just two seasons in an Emory uniform, she already ranks among the school's all-time top 10 in six offensive categories including second with 16 homers and 10^th with 100 RBIs.

One of four seniors on the team, Jessica Boni was a rock-solid performer behind the plate, concluding the campaign with a .333 hitting mark (36-of-108) en route to earning Second Team All-Atlantic Region honors.  A starter in all 39 games, Boni was a First Team All-UAA selection and also was tabbed to the league’s all-tournament team.  She was team on the squad in both home runs (6) and RBIs (38). Career-wise, she started 140 of the 154 games she appeared in, tying for fifth place on the Eagles' all-time ladder with 12 homers while ranking ninth on Emory's all-time lists in doubles (30) and RBIs (101).

Sophomore Claire Bailey helped anchor a strong Emory defense that ranked seventh nationally from her second base position, starting all 39 games and checking in with a hitting effort of .375 (45-of-120).  A Second Team All-UAA pick, Bailey was third on the Eagles’ scoresheet with 45 hits and produced a club-leading 11 sacrifice hits.  She turned in an 11-game hitting streak (Mar. 14 - April 21) that ranked as the longest by an Emory player during the season.  Baliley closed out the regular season hitting safely in 15 of the team's last 16 outings.


Honors and Awards