Valparaiso University softball players Taylor Lawson (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) and Carly Trepanier (Manteno, Ill./Manteno) were honored today as Honorable Mention Scholar-Athletes by the Missouri Valley Conference office for their work both on the diamond and in the classroom this season.

Lawson hit .246 while stealing 24 bases as a fifth-year senior this year for the Crusaders. She ranked fifth in a single season in program history with her 24 steals, which were also good for second among all MVC players. Lawson, who also paced Valpo with 30 runs scored in 2018, finished her career third in program history with 69 career steals and also among the Crusaders’ all-time top-10 in games played, hits and runs scored. In the classroom, Lawson carries a 3.67 GPA in the sports administration master’s program at Valpo.

Trepanier hit a team-best .291 in 2018 while starting all 51 games in the middle infield for the Crusaders. The junior also paced Valpo with 18 walks and a .371 on-base percentage, while leading the way as well in both doubles (10) and triples (5). Her five triples were most by any MVC player and were second-most in a single season in program history. In the classroom, Trepanier maintains a 3.35 cumulative GPA as a nursing major.

Eligibility for a spot on the MVC Scholar-Athlete teams is based on the student-athlete being a starter or important reserve with sophomore athletic/academic standings and at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA.