May 26, 2011

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University junior pitcher Jen Mineau (Schaghticoke, N.Y./Hoosic Valley Central) was named Third Team Capital One Academic All-America® for softball as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) it was announced today. She becomes the second Fordham softball student-athlete to earn Academic All-America® honors in the past three years (Mary Beth Puccio was named First Team Academic All-America® in 2009) and is the third Fordham softball player to earn Academic All-America® honors, joining Puccio and Erin Brooks (2004). Overall, Mineau is the 23rd Fordham student-athlete to be named an Academic All-American®.

Mineau, a Visual Arts major with a with a 3.70 GPA, enjoyed another record-setting season in 2011, leading the Rams to their first ever Atlantic 10 title by throwing three complete game shutouts at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Championship to earn Most Outstanding Player honors at the tournament.

Prior to the championship, Mineau was named First Team All-Atlantic 10 as well as the A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year for softball, marking the second straight season she received both of those honors. She was also named First Team Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region and is now under consideration for All-America honors.

On the year, Mineau compiled a 24-9 record with a 1.22 ERA and four saves. In 43 appearances, she threw 24 complete games with 15 shutouts. Over 224.2 innings Mineau allowed just 116 hits while striking out 300 and walking just 38 batters. Opponents managed to hit just .148 against the talented right-hander.

Mineau threw two no-hitters this spring, including a perfect game against Saint Peter's on April 27th, and now has seven career no-hitters and four perfect games. Following the perfect outing against the Peahens, she was named the NFCA Co-National Player of the Week and was also feted by USA Softball as its Collegiate Player of the Week.

Mineau led the Atlantic 10 in ERA and was ranked second in wins and strike outs. In national rankings, she is currently fifth in shutouts, seventh in hits allowed (3.61/seven innings), 14th in saves and 16th in the country in strikeouts (9.3/seven innings) and walks allowed (1.18/seven innings).

With the three shutouts at the Atlantic 10 Championship, Mineau brought a 77-inning scoreless innings streak into the NCAAs and extended it to 84 with a 2-0 win over Penn State in the first game. She then had the streak snapped at 88 innings when Oregon scored twice in the top of the fifth in the second game of the NCAA tournament.

With her 24 wins this year, Mineau brings her career total to 76, setting a new Fordham career record (the old record was 75 set by Sara Kinney (2003-07)). Her 300 strikeouts on the year bring her career total to 976, also a new Fordham career mark. The old record was 680, also held by Kinney.

The Rams closed out the year with a 42-18 overall record, 16-4 in the Atlantic 10. It was the second straight 40-win season for the Rams who also made their eighth consecutive appearance at the Atlantic 10 Championship and second straight NCAA Championship appearance.