August, SAU Softball Win NCAA Division II National Titles for Most Triples Per Game

 RALEIGH, N.C. – Saint Augustine’s University softball standout Makayla August (Rising So./Palm Springs, CA) was officially named the 2017 NCAA Division II national statistical champion for triples per game on Monday, July 10. As a team, Saint Augustine’s University is the NCAA Division II national statistical champion in the same category.

Few freshmen had a better season than August, who averaged 0.33 triples per game. She ranked fourth nationally in total triples (10) for a team which led the nation in triples per game (0.97). For the season, the Lady Falcons amassed 29 triples, establishing themselves as one of the top hitting squads in 2017. They ranked fourth nationally in several categories including batting average (.356), scoring (7.4) and doubles per game (1.9). The Lady Falcons, led by veteran Head Coach Dot Neal, also ranked fifth in slugging percentage (.553) and 22^nd in on-base percentage (.400).

The team honor is the second for the Lady Falcons this year. In May, they were co-winners of the CIAA Softball Team Highest Grade Point Average Award.

August was part of a potent batting lineup which included several stellar hitters. Jasmine Rios (Rising Sr./Greensboro, NC) ranked second in Division II behind August in triples per game (0.28) and Akera McPhaul (Rising Sr./Greensboro, NC) ranked 14^th in triples per game (0.14). Rios also ranked 10^th in Division II in total triples (7). Marley Parker (Rising Sr./Langley, British Columbia) ranked 32^nd in toughest to strikeout and Tamiera Sanchez (Rising So./Sacramento, CA) ranked 34^thin runs per game (1.03).

In the CIAA, McPhaul ranked second (.429) and Haili Pettifer (Rising Sr./Langley, British Columbia) ranked fourth (.418) in batting average. Haley Sessoms (Rising So./Kenansville, NC) and McPhaul ranked fourth (.696) and fifth (.688), respectively, in slugging percentage for the Lady Falcons, who posted a 16-14 overall record including an 11-4 CIAA mark. They placed second in the league’s Southern Division at 7-3.

Plaques will be sent to August and Saint Augustine’s University in the coming months. To see the complete lists of Division II individual and team statistics, go to NCAA.org or NCAA.com.