Softball 5/4/2022 12:00:00 AM

Three Earn Softball All-United East Honors

Latham, N.Y. – Three members of the Penn State Abington softball team earned All-United East Conference (UEC) honors as announced by the conference office on Wednesday afternoon. Freshman Drew Liss was named to the All-UEC first team, while senior Mary Kate Smith and freshman Gretchen Yanss were selected to the All-UEC second team.

In her first year of collegiate action, Liss is batting .429 through the regular season; 10^th best in the United East. She's totaled 42 hits, including eight doubles and four triples. She's scored 30 runs and has 25 RBI on the year. Liss had at least one hit in 24-of-30 games played-in this season. She's also had hitting streaks of 12 and nine games during the course of the season.

Liss has recorded a season-high four hits twice this year. The first coming at Gallaudet University where she went 4-for-4 in game one with two runs, three RBI, two doubles and a triple. In the opener at Morrisville State College, Liss finished game one 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBI.

Defensively, Liss is among the conference leaders in fielding percentage at .962 with only three errors.

Smith is earning All-UEC (formerly the NEAC) honors for the second straight season after earning first team honors in 2021. Smith is having a career season as she is currently hitting .417 with career marks in hits (48), doubles (4), triples (2), home runs (1), runs (37) and RBI (18).

Smith tied her career-high with a four-hit performance in game two against Wells College. She finished a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs and three RBI. Smith went 7-for-8 at the plate in the doubleheader. Later in the season in the doubleheader at Wells, Smith set a new career-high with six runs scored in game one as she finished 3-for-4 with three RBI.

Yanss has been rolling of late in the pitching circle for Abington as she finished the regular season with six victories, including two in her last three games. In 17 appearances (16 starts), Yanss has pitched 83.0 innings in her first year of collegiate action. She has also struck out 57 batters. Yanss recorded a career-high seven strike outs twice this season with both occasions coming against Penn College.

At the plate, Yanss is hitting .328 through the regular season with 21 hits, including four doubles and one triple. She has scored 19 runs to go along with 14 RBI. Yanss recorded a career-high four hits (4-4) in game two versus Gallaudet as she also scored a career-high three times.

Abington (24-14, 19-9 UEC) earned the fourth seed in this week's United East Tournament. The Nittany Lions will face top-seed and host Penn College on Friday starting at 10 a.m. to open the postseason. Abington's 24 wins this season marks the most in the program's Division III era.

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2022 United East Major Awards and All-United East Teams
Player of the Year: Arizona Schreck, Penn State Berks
Pitcher of the Year: Kyle Benner, Penn College
Rookie of the Year: Madelyn Lehigh, Penn State Harrisburg
Coach of the Year: Mandi Baer, Penn State Harrisburg

All-United East First Team
Catcher – Delaney Nevius (Penn State Harrisburg)
Infielder – Olivia Hemstock (Penn College)
Infielder – Arizona Schreck (Penn State Berks)
Infielder – Madelyn Lehigh (Penn State Harrisburg)
Infielder – Steph Reider (Penn State Harrisburg)
Outfielder – Susan Duncan (Penn State Berks)
Outfielder – Lauren Hess (Penn State Harrisburg)
Outfielder – Drew Liss (Penn State Abington)
Pitcher – Kyla Benner (Penn College)
Pitcher – Mackenzie Weaver (Penn College)
DP/Utility – McKenzie Boozel (Penn State Harrisburg)

All-United East Second Team
Catcher – Ivvy Morder (Penn College)
Infielder – Maddie Hurst (Penn College)
Infielder – Madelyn Krantz (Penn State Harrisburg)
Infielder – Phoebe Clemens (Lancaster Bible)
Infielder – Peyton Vivian (Penn State Berks)
Outfielder – Alyssa Hamilton (Lancaster Bible)
Outfielder – Mary Kate Smith (Penn State Abington)
Outfielder – Emily Strupp (Penn State Berks)
Pitcher – Briana Smith (Penn State Berks)
Pitcher – Carissa Yeager (Penn State Harrisburg)
DP/Utility – Gretchen Yanss (Penn State Abington)

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Players Mentioned

#11 Mary Kate Smith: UTL; 5' 7"; Senior; L/R

#8 Drew Liss: OF/C; 5' 2"; Freshman; R/R

#13 Gretchen Yanss: P; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#11 Mary Kate Smith
: 5' 7"; Senior; L/R
: UTL

#8 Drew Liss
: 5' 2"; Freshman; R/R
: OF/C

#13 Gretchen Yanss
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: P

Players Mentioned

#11 Mary Kate Smith

#8 Drew Liss

#13 Gretchen Yanss

Players Mentioned

#11 Mary Kate Smith

#8 Drew Liss

#13 Gretchen Yanss