EKU’S ALVAREZ OVC CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR, ALVAREZ & NOWLIN FIRST TEAM ALL-OVC

JACKSON, Tenn. – Eastern Kentucky University’s Mandy Alvarez was chosen as the Oho Valley Conference Co-Player of the Year and Alvarez joined teammate Kyle Nowlin on the All-OVC first team, the league announced tonight at its annual awards banquet in Jackson, Tennessee.

Alvarez leads the nation in hits (97), is fourth in total bases (153), eighth in batting (.409), 30^th in slugging (.646) and 34^th in RBIs (58).

The senior from Miami, Florida leads the OVC in batting and hits, is second in total bases, fifth in slugging, tied for fifth in RBIs and tied for fifth in home runs (13).

In 17 games this season against teams ranked in the RPI top-100, Alvarez hit .411 with 13 runs, five home runs, 22 RBIs, a .644 slugging percentage and a .451 on-base percentage.

Over the past two season, Nowlin has terrorized pitching staffs to the tune of 40 home runs.  He set a new EKU record with 21 homers this season while posting a .300 batting average, 61 RBIs and 46 runs.  He drew 50 walks in 2016, also a new program record, and carried a .435 on-base percentage.

The senior from Harrison, Ohio leads the nation in home runs, is 16^th in walks, 20^th in RBIs, 24^th in total bases (136) and 25^th in slugging (.657).  Nowlin is second in the conference in walks and third in slugging and RBIs.

Nowlin hit three home runs in a game four times during his career, including this season against South Dakota State on Feb. 28.

Alvarez is the ninth Colonel to earn OVC Player of the Year honors and the first since Charlie Yarbrough in 2006.  Nowlin is now a two-time All-OVC selection (2015) and was also the 2013 OVC Rookie of the Year as a freshman.