The 1986 NCAA Division I softball season, play of college softball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began in February 1986. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 1986 NCAA Division I softball tournament and 1986 Women's College World Series. The Women's College World Series, consisting of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA Tournament and held in Omaha, Nebraska at Seymour Smith Park, ended on May 25, 1986.
Conference standings
Women's College World Series The 1986 NCAA Women's College World Series took place May 21–25, 1986 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Season leaders Batting Batting average: .453 – Jackie Nietopski, Niagara Purple Eagles RBIs: 41 – Debbi Oraczewski, Towson Tigers, Jeanne Weinsheim, San Diego Toreros & Melanie Marshall, Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Home runs: 10 – Debbi Oraczewski, Towson Tigers
Pitching Wins: 35-9 – Stacey Johnson, Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters ERA: 0.18 (4 ER/153.1 IP) – Connie Clark, Cal State Fullerton Titans Strikeouts: 370 – Amy Unterbrink, Indiana Hoosiers
Records NCAA Division I season WHIP: 0.36 (58 H+13 BB/195.0 IP) – Virginia Augusta, North Carolina Tar Heels
NCAA Division I single game triples: 3 – Lynna Hallick, Northwestern Wildcats; April 18, 1986
Junior class perfect games: 3 – Virginia Augusta, North Carolina Tar Heels
Team single game triples: 7 – UMass Minutewomen; March 17, 1986
Awards Honda Sports Award Softball: Susan LeFebvre, Cal State Fullerton Titans
YEAR W L GP GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO ERA WHIP 1986 31 6 39 36 34 25 0 284.2 106 18 11 59 208 0.27 0.58
All America Teams The following players were members of the first All-American Teams.
First Team Position Player Class School P Stacey Johnson SR. Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters Amy Unterbrink SR. Indiana Hoosiers Susan LeFebvre SR. Cal State Fullerton Titans C Alicia Seegert JR. Michigan Wolverines 1B Kathy Dyer SR. New Mexico Lobos 2B Alison Stowell SO. Cal Poly Pomona Broncos 3B Cindy Cooper SR. Texas A&M Aggies SS Leslie Kanter SR. USF Bulls OF Kathy Escarcega JR. Arizona State Sun Devils Chenita Rogers JR. Cal State Fullerton Titans Karleen Moore SR. Indiana Hoosiers UT Tracy Bunge SR. Kansas Jayhawks
Second Team Position Player Class School P Lori Sippel SO. Nebraska Cornhuskers Melanie Parrent SO. Fresno State Bulldogs Rhonda Wheatley JR. Cal Poly Pomona Broncos C Kelly Downs JR. Kansas Jayhawks 1B Gena Strang SO. Fresno State Bulldogs 2B Lori Richins JR. Nebraska Cornhuskers 3B Mary Hammen SO. Oklahoma State Cowgirls SS Kelly Smith JR. Utah State Aggies OF Sheila Connelly JR. Kansas Jayhawks Kris Schmidt SO. Missouri Tigers Sally Mahar SR. UMass Minutewomen UT Barb Drake JR. Minnesota Golden Gophers
References