Fayetteville – University of Arkansas Softball Stars Ellis and Leinstock Earn NFCA All-America Honors
Bri Ellis and Morgan Leinstock from the University of Arkansas softball team have been selected for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America teams, as announced on Wednesday. Ellis, a first baseman, earned a spot on the All-America Second Team, while pitcher Leinstock was named to the Third Team.
These selections mark the first All-America honors for both Ellis and Leinstock, who joined the program this season. This achievement also continues the Razorbacks’ streak of having multiple players named All-Americans for four consecutive years. Notably, 13 of the program’s 14 All-Americans have been developed under the guidance of Coach Courtney Deifel.
Ellis had a standout debut season with the Razorbacks, earning places on the All-SEC First Team and All-SEC Defensive Team, as well as the NFCA All-South Region First Team. The junior led the team in several key statistics, including runs (36), home runs (14), RBIs (47), total bases (97), slugging percentage (.651), and two-out RBIs (17). She finished the season with an impressive .322/.444/.651 line (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage). Ellis, hailing from Houston, made history as the first player in the program to be named SEC Player of the Week in consecutive weeks (March 12 and March 19). Defensively, she excelled at first base with a .989 fielding percentage over 359 chances and turned 21 double plays.
Leinstock made a significant impact in her sole season with the Razorbacks, earning All-SEC First Team and NFCA All-South Region Third Team honors. She concluded her final collegiate season with a 13-6 record, a 2.14 ERA, 137 strikeouts, 140.2 innings pitched, eight complete games, three shutouts, and held opponents to a .220 batting average. In SEC play, Leinstock ranked among the top in several categories, including fourth in saves (2), sixth in wins (8) and batters struck out looking (20), eighth in ERA (2.00), ninth in innings pitched (80.1) and batters struck out (66), and 11th in opponent batting average (.213).
