(STILLWATER, Oklahoma / February 4, 2018) – Oklahoma State softball standout Vanessa Shippy was selected to the first team of the College Sports Madness 2018 Preseason All-America teams, it was announced Sunday.
Shippy was the only utility player selected to the first team. She is also one of five Big 12 athletes named throughout the four teams.
The recognition continues to build on what is a growing list of accolades for Shippy, as she was named to the USA Softball College Player of the Year Top 50 watch list last week.
A native of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Shippy has already placed herself in the upper echelon of great softball players to come through Oklahoma State.
She is the only Cowgirl to ever earn multiple All-America and Academic All-America honors, as she earned both those titles in each of the past two seasons. Shippy also has a chance to set, or extend, several school records in her upcoming senior campaign.
The left-handed hitter currently owns the program's career on-base percentage record at .502, and is the only player in team history with an above-.500 on-base percentage in multiple seasons (.543 - 2016, .517 - 2017). She also ranks fifth in career batting average (.381) and fourth in career slugging percentage (.562).
Last year, Shippy led Oklahoma State in several statistical categories, including batting average, hits, runs batted in, total bases and more. She also finished second among the Cowgirls in runs scored, walks, stolen bases and on-base percentage.
Shippy and the Cowgirls will open the 2018 season Friday, Feb. 9, in Tempe, Arizona, as OSU takes part in the Kajikawa Classic. The squad will face Oregon State and No. 7 Arizona on opening day before taking on Missouri, New Mexico and Western Michigan over the weekend.
To keep up with everything else happening within the Oklahoma State softball program, follow the Cowgirls on Twitter (@CowgirlSB), Facebook (Cowgirl Softball) and Instagram (osusoftball).
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