TROY, Ala. (Feb. 22, 2012) – After helping guide the ETSU softball team to its first win of the season this past weekend, junior Sam Lower (Sebring, Fla.) and sophomore Casey Horner (Whitesburg, Tenn.) were both named to the Quality Inn Classic All-Tournament Team, which was announced Wednesday by the participating coaches.

The Buccaneer duo combined for 10 hits in 23 at-bats, while collecting two doubles, two home runs, four runs scored, and seven RBI in the four-game tournament at Troy University.

Lower, a Preseason All-Atlantic Sun selection, went 6-for-12 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored and six RBI en route to raising her batting average over 66 points on the season to .423. The Sebring, Fla. native – who reached base safely in three of the four games – recorded a .538 on-base percentage and a .917 slugging percentage. Lower was a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored and five RBI in the 10-5 win over Nicholls State on Sunday, while going 2-for-3 with a RBI against tournament champion Eastern Kentucky on Friday.  

Meanwhile, Horner also had a productive weekend at the plate. The sophomore transfer hit .364 (4-11) with a home run, two runs scored and a RBI on the weekend. Horner went 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and a RBI against fifth-ranked Missouri on Sunday, and posted one hit in three at-bats Friday night versus Eastern Kentucky. Like Lower, Horner also reached base in three of the four games.

Below is the full listing of the all-tournament team:

Megan Gaspard – Nicholls State

Ashley Ray – Nicholls State

Jenna Marston - Missouri

Ashley Fleming – Missouri

Sam Lower - ETSU

Casey Horner – ETSU

Taylor Rager – Ball State

Loren Cihlar – Ball State

Katie Tackett – Eastern Kentucky

Shaylon Robb* – Eastern Kentucky

Nikki Hollett – Troy

Sarah Thomas – Troy

*- indicates Tournament MVP

The Bucs return to the diamond this weekend when ETSU heads to Chattanooga for the Frost Classic, beginning Friday morning. ETSU takes on Valparaiso at 11 a.m. and Troy at 1:15 p.m.

For more information on Buccaneer softball, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.