STARKVILLE, Miss.- The Mercyhurst softball team earned the 16^th-highest grade point average in Division II and had eight student-athletes honored as All-America Scholar Athletes. The lists were compiled by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) for the 2010-11 school year.
 
The Lakers recorded a team GPA of 3.379, second-best in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Central Missouri led Division II with a 3.533 mark, while Mansfield placed sixth with a 3.450 average.
 
Hurst featured eight players that were named to the All-America team. The student-athletes had to achieve a GPA of 3.50 or higher to be honored. Amber Rapose, Jennifer Bower, Emily Redig, Andrea Sauers, Amanda Walker, Molly McNamara, Amanda Norman, and Kara Gorgos were all selected.
 
Rapose played 24 games last season, playing in the outfield and catching. Bower started 12 games behind the plate, totaling 11 hits. Redig batted .321 in 42 games at second base, garnering All-PSAC First Team honors. Sauers started 43 contests at third base. She had 19 runs batted in and 20 walks.
 
Walker appeared in 19 games, hitting .321 as an outfielder. McNamara made 21 appearances, stealing five bases. Norman led the team in wins with 11, throwing 104.2 innings and holding opponents to a .269 batting average. Gorgos started all 44 games in the outfield, hitting .280 and stealing nine bags.
 
Coach Sara Headley's squad went 24-20, including a 9-7 conference mark. Rapose, Norman and Gorgos all graduated, but the Lakers return the other five student-athletes on the list.

For the complete lists, click here.