May 8, 2008

ITHACA, N.Y. – Sophomore infielder Jennifer McKinley of Millsaps College has been named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI First Team as voted upon by more than 2,000 members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

A product of Frisco, Texas, McKinley becomes the first Millsaps softball player chosen in the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District's seven year history and joins senior infielder Hunter Abrams on the Majors' baseball team as the lone two selections on this year's list. She earns first team honors in her first year of eligibility as a sophomore, as freshmen are not eligible for consideration.

McKinley has been an immediate contributer for the Majors in her first two seasons on and off the diamond, starting in all 72 games and leading the team in home runs each of those years, while posting a 3.90 GPA in biology in the classroom.

After a slow start to the season, the sophomore batted a clean .369 from the box, recording 41 hits, 30 runs, 26 RBIs, eight doubles, six home runs and a triple. She also grabbed 69 total bases, drew 13 walks and swiped three stolen bases. McKinley opened the first 12 games with a .195 average but turned it on late, batting .471 over the final 22 games with five of her six home runs and a stifling .843 slugging percentage.

McKinley earns her second postseason honor this year (SCAC All-Tournament Team) and seventh of her young career after being named Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All-Atlantic Region and All-America Scholar-Athlete, First Team All-SCAC, SCAC All-Tourney Team and an Academic All-SCAC selection during her freshman campaign in 2007.

The Academic All-District VI team is comprised of student-athletes from schools in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. As a first team selection, McKinley will be placed on the ballot for Academic All-America honors which will be announced on Wednesday, May 28.