Three Spartans Earn Big Ten Softball Honors :: Senior Nikki Nicosia takes home first-team accolades.

May 9, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. - Three Spartans have earned All-Big Ten softball honors, the conference office announced Thursday evening. MSU senior Nikki Nicosia earned a first-team selection as an outfielder, while Jessica LeFevre and Bianca Mejia were selected to the third team, as a designated player and shortstop, respectively.

Nicosia entered the Big Ten Tournament leading the nation with .20 triples per game, and currently leads the Big Ten with 10 triples this year - the second most by a Spartan in a single season. For her career, Nicosia has 16 triples, which ranks second all-time in MSU history. She is three shy of tying Keri Lemaster's 19 career triples.

Leading the team batting .398, Nicosia will retire as one of the most successful Spartan outfielders in MSU history. Nicosia's 220 career hits rank fourth in Green and White history, while her 125 runs scored is second in the books. Additionally with 13 stolen bases this year, Nicosia has 69 career stolen bases, which is the second most in school history.

A member of Michigan State's 2008 captain trio, Nicosia was also a 2007 All-Big Ten Second Team and 2007 All-Great Lakes Regional Second Team honoree. In addition to her first-team selection, Nicosia was chosen as Michigan State's sportsmanship award honoree.

Jessica LeFevre earns her second conference honor as Michigan State's designated player this year. In 2007, LeFevre was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team. Batting .306, LeFevre has been the designated player in 43 of the 51 games she started this year, and with 38 hits and 32 runs scored, the Saginaw, Mich., native makes effective work of her time on base with a team high 16 stolen bases (of 19 attempts). With 52 career stolen bases, LeFevre ranks fifth among MSU's all-time leaders.

Bianca Mejia tallied her first Big Ten honor, being named to this year's third team. A 2008 captain, Mejia leads the Spartans at the plate with nine home runs, driving in a team high 38 RBI. The redshirt freshman's nine homers ties for sixth in MSU's single-season records, while her 27 walks drawn is the seventh most by a Spartan in a single season. Mejia is currently batting .333 with 53 hits. The Sylmar, Calif. native, has scored 24 times this year and paces the team with a .443 on-base percentage.