Two Longhorns earn preseason All-America honors
AUSTIN, Texas – Two Texas Longhorns, second baseman Janae Jefferson and utility player Lauren Burke, were named to D1Softball’s Preseason All-America team, according to a release from the organization.
Jefferson was named to the first team, and Burke to the second, at first base. The pair were among second players from Big 12 teams.
A member of the 2021 USA Softball National Player of the Year Watch ListJefferson finished the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign by leading the Big 12 in batting average (.554 — third in NCAA Div. I), hits (41 — fourth in NCAA) and on-base percentage (.607 – third in the NCAA) while also posting eight extra-base hits, 13 walks and stealing 10 bases. The 2020 Softball America Shortened Season All-America led the Longhorns with 13 multi-hit games and owns the best career batting average in school history at .425, easily exceeding the .385 mark set by Lexy Bennett (2009-12).
Burke hit .453 last season with 29 hits, 12 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 20 runs batted in. She ranked fifth in Div. I in doubles, eighth in the nation in doubles-per-game (0.50) and 15th in slugging percentage at a team-leading .891. Burke also ranked second in the Big 12 Conference in batting average, trailing only Jefferson.
