By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University sophomore left fielder Emma Elliott (So., Battle Ground, WA/Battle Ground HS) has been selected First Team All-Northwest Conference and two other Bearcats have been named Second Team All-NWC in voting by the NWC head coaches for the 2024 season. Willamette's Second Team honorees were senior pitcher Jordyn Johnson (Sr., Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) and utility player Desirae Hatfield (Fy., Salem, OR/South Salem HS).

The 2024 All-NWC Softball Team recognized a total of 34 athletes. The First Team featured 14 players and the Second Team included 15 players. An additional five players received Honorable Mention.

Willamette concluded the 2024 season in the four-team NWC Tournament after finishing fourth in the NWC standings. While battling their way into the NWC Tournament, the Bearcats won nine consecutive games between April 14 and May 1. The Bearcats were 17-23 overall, 13-15 in the NWC.

First Team All-Northwest Conference

Emma Elliott (So., LF) was named First Team All-NWC as an outfielder after earning Second Team All-NWC honors as a utility player in 2023. This year, she held Willamette's top batting average at .327 with nine doubles, three triples, and seven home runs. She led WU in homers and triples, and tied for the lead in doubles. She provided a .655 slugging percentage and a .422 on-base percentage. Elliott was 10 of 11 on stolen bases. She scored 29 runs and was credited with 41 RBIs. She registered 49 putouts and two assists on defense.

As a first-year player in 2013, she saw action as an outfielder and a designated player. She ranked second on the roster with a .403 batting average and a .468 on-base percentage. She scored 21 runs to go with eight doubles, two triples, and one homer.

In two seasons at Willamette, Elliott has played in 60 games with 59 starts. She has achieved a .356 career batting average (.440 on-base, .644 slugging) and has pounded 17 doubles, five triples, and eight homers. She has scored 50 runs while earning 41 RBis. She is 12 of 13 on stolen bases. Her defensive totals include 66 putouts and two assists.

Second Team All-Northwest Conference

Jordyn Johnson (Sr., P) earned Second Team All-NWC honors this season after pitching in 18 games with 16 starts. She provided WU with a 3.42 earned run average and 84 strikeouts in 98 1/3 inning pitched. She ended the year with a 5-11 record, but allowed three or fewer runs eight times. Johnson struck out a career-high 13 batters while pitching the final 13 1/3 innings in a 15-inning loss to Pomona-Pitzer. She tossed a complete-game shutout victory in a 13-0 run-rule win over Pacific University on April 28.

In her career, she pitched in 57 games with 45 starts and 27 complete games. She struck out 210 batters to rank third on Willamette's all-time list. She pitched a total of 285 innings, while providing the Bearcats with a 4.64 career ERA. She earned 13 wins and one save. She accumulated 17 putouts and 62 assists on defense with a .963 fielding percentage.

Desirae Hatfield (Fy., INF) was named Second Team All-NWC with a successful first-year performance as a utility player for the Bearcats. She played in 36 games with 34 starts. She played at third base in numerous games, but filled in throughout the infield during the season and also pinch-hit. She batted .293 and hit six doubles. She scored 15 runs and produced 14 RBIs. She was 2 for 3 on stolen bases. She achieved two hits nine times, including six of 10 games played between April 13 and May 1.

Hatfield's defensive efforts included 36 putouts, 52 assists, and three double plays, with a .936 fielding percentage. She earned five assists while playing third base in a game at Pacific University on April 28.