BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan softball team placed five student-athletes on the Mountain East Conference First Team, the league announced on Thursday (May 6). Lauryn King, Kiley Turner, Grace Smith, Kennedy Cowart and Abigail O'Shields were all named All-MEC First Team.

King, a senior from Chester Va., leads Wesleyan in RBI (26) and slugging percentage (.554) while she is tied for the team-high in home runs (5), hits (37) and total bases (56). King hit a 3-run homer and grand slam en route to a nine RBI performance against Davis & Elkins on Tuesday (April 26) in game two. 9 RBI is currently the best for a single game in NCAA Division-II this season and tied for the single game high across all NCAA levels in 2021.

Turner, a junior from Leesburg, Va., was voted to the All-MEC First Team in the utility category as she's been the Bobcat catcher and designated player this season. Turner batted .320 with four home runs and 21 RBI. Turner hit a pair of home runs in a doubleheader on April 23 against No. 25 Charleston including the go-ahead solo shot to left in game two.

Smith, a sophomore from Charleston, W.Va., has started every game at second base for WVWC this year. She is hitting .371 with five doubles and 12 RBI. Smith hit a walk-off single against Notre Dame (Ohio) on Saturday (April 3).

Cowart, a senior from Houston, Texas, leads the Bobcats in batting average (.389) while being tied with King in hits (37). She has driven in 12 RBI and knocked around five doubles.

O'Shields is 13-4 overall in the circle with a 2.38 ERA and 14 complete games to her credit. The Dagsboro, Del., native has struck out 83 batters and is coming off an MEC Co-Pitcher of the Week honor after winning five games in one week. O'Shields spun a no-hitter in a five-inning, 9-0 victory over Glenville State on March 27.

WVWC softball will play West Liberty in its first game of the MEC Tournament at the James I. Moyer Complex in Salem, Va., on Friday (May 7) at 2:30 p.m.