TU Softball: Kernen Named To All-America Second Team

Tulsa senior Julie Kernen was named to the 2015 Capital One Academic All-America Division I Softball Second Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America, the organization announced Friday.

Kernen was previously selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 Team, and was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference and third-team NFCA All-Mideast Region Team this season. She is Tulsa's fourth Academic All-America softball player.

The first baseman from St. Louis, Mo., graduated earlier this month with a 3.97 grade point average and a degree in speech language pathology. She was a two-time Conference USA All-Academic Team selection, C-USA Academic Medalist, and has been a member of the Tulsa President's List and Dean's List. She was also selected to the University of Tulsa Ultimate Team, honoring excellence in academics, campus involvement, community outreach and athletic participation.

This season, Kernen recorded a school-record 59 RBI, and led the Golden Hurricane with 27 extra base hits, including 12 home runs and 15 doubles. She hit .331 with a team-high .639 slugging percentage, and added 39 runs, 22 walks and a .421 on-base percentage. She also led TU with 16 multiple RBI games and tallied 13 multiple hit games this season. Kernen finished her career ranking among the top-10 in 11 career categories at Tulsa, and was just the third TU player to record 25 home runs, 40 doubles and 145 RBI in her career.

Kernen is the fourth player in TU softball history to earn Academic All-America honors. Jill Barrett(2011-14) was a first-team Academic All-America selection in 2014, Sara Dyer (2005-08) earned first team Academic All-America honors in 2007 and 2008, and Brandi McGuire (2000-03) was a second-team selection in 2003.