After being named to the All-Southeastern Conference Second Team in two consecutive seasons, LSU senior pitcher Rachele Fico finally broke into the top flight of SEC awards on Tuesday, garnering the first All-SEC Preseason-Team selection of her career.
Fico collected 221 strikeouts in 2012 on her way to a 20-13 record and a 1.12 ERA that ranked fourth in the nation.
At the NCAA Columbia Super Regional, Fico earned MVP honors, picking up both LSU victories against No. 9 Missouri to earn the Lady Tigers a trip to the Women’s College World Series.
Fico is the first LSU softball player named to the All-Preseason Team since former Tiger and two-time All-American Kirsten Shortridge in 2010.
Tennessee boasts the most players selected to the 2013 All-Preseason Team with four, and Alabama contributed three players for a close second.
“There’s no doubt that Rachele had a spectacular season and was a big part of our program returning to the Women’s College World Series,” said LSU coach Beth Torina in a news release. “The great thing about Rachele is that she always wants to get better and has worked extremely hard during the offseason.”