University of Tennessee Athletics
Rainey Gaffin Named 2015 NFCA All-American
May 27, 2015 | Softball
2015 NFCA DIVISION I ALL-AMERICANS
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Tennessee junior Rainey Gaffin has been named a 2015 NFCA Division I All-American, as announced by the NFCA on Wednesday at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium - OGE Energy Field.
In all, 55 players from 28 different institutions were selected to one of three 2015 NFCA Division I All-American teams.
The three conferences that are represented at this year's Women's College World Series had an impressive 39 of the 55 total selections. In all, the Southeastern Conference led the way with 19, while the Pac-12 Conference racked up 13 nods and the Big Ten Conference came in with seven selections. Out of those 39 student-athletes, 28 or 51 percent of the All-Americans will be stepping on the field at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium on Thursday.
Gaffin was named a second-team NFCA Division I All-American as an at-large utility/pitcher. Gaffin is Tennessee's 14th All-American and 31st All-America selection, joining the elite Tennessee sisterhood of Monica Abbott (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007), Lindsay Schutzler (2005, 2006, 2007), Kristi Durant (2005, 2006), Sarah Fekete (2005, 2006), Tonya Callahan (2006, 2007, 2008), India Chiles (2007), Tiffany Huff (2009), Raven Chavanne (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), Kat Dotson (2010), Lauren Gibson (2011, 2012, 2013), Ellen Renfroe (2011, 2012), Madison Shipman (2012, 2013, 2014) and Annie Aldrete (2014).
Gaffin, who was previously named to the 2015 NFCA All-Southeast Region Second Team and the 2015 SEC All-Defensive Team, is enjoying the best season of her career and thriving in the postseason. In the pitcher's circle, she is 17-3 with a 2.19 ERA and 119 strikeouts over 39 games, 11 starts and 121.2 innings of work entering the 2015 Women's College World Series. The dual-threat set new career-highs with a .318 batting average, five homers, 15 doubles, 28 RBIs, 57 hits and 45 runs scored at the plate. She is the first Lady Vol to earn All-America honors in the utility/pitcher role.
The Thornton, Colo., native has played a major role in Tennessee's late-season hot streak to its seventh Women's College World Series appearance. In the 2015 NCAA Tournament, Gaffin is 3-0 with a 0.44 ERA, one save and 16 strikeouts over 16 innings in the circle. She limited opposing hitters to a .123 batting average in NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals.
Tennessee opens the 2015 Women's College World Series on Thursday at 11 a.m. CT/Noon ET on ESPN.
