2019 NFCA All-Americans

Malone University sophomore Bailey Byers was named a Third Team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on Wednesday night when the organization announced its All-America Teams at the Division II National Championship Banquet in Denver.
 
Byers becomes Malone softball's first All-American in the NCAA Division II era and just the second-ever All-American in the entire 28-year history of the program. She joins Kristen Atzenhoefer, an NAIA All-American in 2009, as the only two Pioneers to earn the prestigious distinction.
 
Byers, a 5'6" sophomore catcher from Alliance, Ohio and West Branch High School, started all 40 games for the Pioneers, playing all but seven innings behind the plate. She led Malone to a 23-17 record, the most wins since 2002, and a G-MAC Championship berth.
 
The power-hitting righty registered a remarkable .453 batting average with 63 hits, including 12 doubles, three triples, and a school-record 13 homeruns. She added 38 runs batted in, 30 runs scored, a pair of stolen bases, and eight walks as she finished the season with a .480 on-base percentage. Defensively, she collected 207 putouts and 30 assists from behind the dish.
 
Among all players in NCAA Division II, Byers ranked 19th in batting average and 13th in homeruns per game (.33). Her school record .863 slugging percentage was also eighth-best in the country. She registered 19 multi-hit games, including a season-high four in the season opener and then again during a win at Walsh in April. She tallied eight games with multiple RBI, including a season-high five on two separate occasions.
 
Byers, who began the season on a 20-game hitting streak and reached base in 37 of 40 games, was one of just six players in Division II, and the only underclassmen in the country, to bat .450 or better and hit at least 10 homeruns.
 
Following a record-breaking season in which she also surpassed the Malone mark for career homeruns with 21, Byers was named G-MAC First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Midwest Region by the NFCA, and Second Team All-Midwest by the D2CCA. She was awarded as the NFCA National Player of the Week on March 13th.