March 6, 2008

Kansas City, Mo. - Massachusetts senior outfielder Lauren Proctor and Saint Louis senior pitcher Lorena Floccari have been selected as 2008 candidates in the softball division of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. They are among thirty of the nation's best college softball players who also excel in the classroom and make an impact in their respective communities.

The award, presented to NCAA® Division I student-athletes each year in eight sports, focuses on the "Four C's" of classroom, character, community and competition.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched in 2001 to honor the attributes of college basketball seniors who fulfill their entire athletic eligibility and pursue their degree. Since that time, Lowe's, an official corporate partner of the NCAA®, has expanded the award to include other NCAA sports and the award has developed into the nation's premier tribute to college seniors.

This marks the second year for the softball division of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Arizona outfielder Caitlin Lowe was the inaugural winner in 2007.

Proctor was named a co-captain for the 2008 season. This past weekend, Proctor help lead the Minutewomen to a stunning 4-1 win over No. 2 Texas A&M at the NFCA Leadoff Classic after hitting an RBI triple and adding a double on her next at-bat. She boasts a career batting averaged of .335 and a career slugging percentage of .456 and was a second-team All-Conference honoree in 2007.

Floccari enters her final season as the Billikens' career leader in appearances and saves. Currently, she ranks second on SLU's career charts for games started (79) and innings pitched (523.1), third in shutouts (7) and fourth in complete games (47) and strikeouts (335). The senior co-captain needs just one more start in the circle in order to tie the program record.

From the list of 30 nominees (complete list attached), a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in late March 2008. Those ten names will be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote that will include coaches, media and fans. The award winner will be announced and recognized at the 2008 NCAA® Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.