(Story Courtesy of Texas Lutheran University Sports Information Department)
SEGUIN, Texas -- For the fourth consecutive season, multiple Texas Lutheran Softball players have been crowned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Americans, announced by the organization Wednesday night.
Senior pitcher Ashlyn Strother becomes the first four-time NFCA All-American in program history, earning First Team honors for the second time in her career, and is joined on the top team by sophomore second baseman Caelee Clark, who earns her second-straight All-American honor and her first First Team selection. Clark would also repeat as the NFCA/New Balance Golden Shoe Award Winner, recognizing the most prolific base stealer at every level of college softball.
TLU athletes have earned 16 NFCA All-American honors in program history. Of the Bulldogs 16 honors, 14 have been earned under head coach Wade Wilson.
Strother had yet another dominant campaign for her senior season, holding a 0.95 ERA that ranks seventh in the country with eight shutouts - which ranks eighth nationally - one perfect game, and a no-hitter. The Seabrook, Texas, product finished 19-1 in the circle in 2024, allowing just 20 extra base hits in 2024. .In 118.1 innings, she racked up 131 strikeouts to just 13 walks and 16 earned runs, while opponents hit just .185 against her. In conference play, Strother led the league in wins (11-0) while holding a 0.84 ERA and allowing just eight runs. Strother became the first pitcher in SCAC history to win Pitcher of the Year four times.
Historically, Strother cemented herself as one of the best to ever put on a SCAC jersey and step into the circle. During her tenure in Seguin, Strother concludes her career with the best winning percentage of any pitcher in league history (.933 – 84-6) and her career 0.95 ERA ranks tops in league history. Her 84 career wins and 599 strikeouts rank second all-time in league history.
Clark led TLU with 63 hits, 49 runs scored, and an NCAA Division-III record 87 stolen bases, which ranks third all-time across all three NCAA divisions for a single-season. Clark slashed .467/ .526/ .526 for a 1.052 OPS while adding four doubles, a TLU-best two triples, and 19 RBIs. The highlight-reel second baseman started every game for TLU and was exceptional at second base, turning eight double plays with a .969 fielding percentage. Clark, the repeat SCAC Player of the Year, got on base for the Bulldogs in every game but three in 2024, starting the season with a 26-game on-base streak.
The Golden Shoe recognizes the nation's most prolific base stealer when accounting for strength of schedule and other statistical categories. Clark led NCAA Division-III her record 87 stolen bases during the 2024 campaign. She finished the season 29 stolen bases clear of the highest athlete at the Division-II level and 43 clear of the Division-I leader, Megan Delgadillo of Cal State Fullerton. Clark is the first two-time Golden Shoe winner in NCAA Division-III history and only the fourth ever on any level including NAIA to win the award multiple times since the award began in 2014. The Montgomery, Texas product became the first athlete in Division-III softball history to eclipse 80 stolen bases and achieved the record mark with eight games cancelled on the 2024 schedule. Clark swiped her 87 bases in 89 attempts (1st in NCAA), and also led the country in stolen bases per game (2.29), which ranks second in NCAA Division-III history.
To view the entire 2024 NFCA All-American Team, click here.
