Walkden, DeStaso Claim ECAC All-Star Honors

June 10, 2015

Danbury, Conn. -- Freshman Alexis Walkden (Cibolo, Texas) and senior Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) were both honored by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Wednesday as Walkden was named a first-team ECAC All-Star and DeStaso was named a second-team ECAC All-Star.

Representatives from ECAC Division I member institutions completed the voting.

In addition to the ECAC honor, Walkden has also been named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, first-team All-BIG EAST and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Mideast second team. She put together one of the most dominant seasons in program history, leading the BIG EAST in home runs (20), RBI (51), runs scored (40) and total bases (128) while also ranking second in slugging (.837) sixth in batting average at .373. She led the Pirates in nearly every offensive category and also played stellar defense at the hot corner. Her 20 home runs and 51 RBI both broke the school's single-season records.

One of two unanimous first-team selections in the BIG EAST, the Cibolo native also ranks very high nationally. Her home run total was second-highest among all freshmen in the country and 19th overall, and her slugging percentage is third-highest among all rookies and 23rd overall.

DeStaso claims her fourth accolade of the postseason; she also was a first-team All-BIG EAST and BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament and CoSIDA Academic All-District selection. In trademark fashion, she was a threat for the Pirates both at the plate and in the circle. She belted a career-high 12 home runs to go with a .324 average, 36 RBI and 28 runs scored. Then as a pitcher, she won 11 games and struck out 130 batters in 148-2/3 innings, recording nine complete games and one shutout.

DeStaso ended her career ranked second all-time at The Hall in home runs (35) and RBIs (125) and third in pitcher strikeouts (486).