LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 2018 Drake University softball team had eight members earn Easton National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2017-18 academic year, the association announced Tuesday, Oct. 3.

Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa), Laura Anderson (Boone, Iowa), Ashlie Chambers (Ankeny, Iowa), Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.), Gabbie Jonas (Omaha, Neb.), Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.), Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) and Nicole Timmons (Davenport, Iowa) were each were recognized individually for their outstanding work in the classroom.

The 2018 team, which captured the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles and qualified for the NCAA Tournament, finished with a team grade point average of 3.480 to place 36th on the Easton NFCA Academic Team rankings.

The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association's membership categories.