Griffin to graduate as one of the program's all-time greats; Bilafer had a strong 2011 season offensively and defensively

RINDGE, N.H. (May 11, 2011) -- A pair of Franklin Pierce University softball standouts were recently honored with prestigious post-season awards, including senior second baseman Emily Griffin (Leominster, Mass.) and junior center fielder Jayme Bilafer (Concord, Mass.). Griffin was named to the 2011 CoSIDA Academic All-District I Second-Team, while Bilafer was placed on the 2011 All-Northeast-10 Third-Team.

Griffin, who will graduate from the school this weekend with a bachelor's degree in biology, leaves as one of the program's all-time great players, as she is the career leader in hits (159), doubles (39) and at-bats (562). Her hits are 25 more than the nearest competitor, while her doubles are 12 more than second place. Griffin's at-bats are nearly 100 more than the next person on the list.

Griffin set all three of those career records during the 2011 season as she ranked among the Northeast-10 leaders in batting average at .306.

However, Griffin's placement on the 2011 CoSIDA Academic Team was not just limited to her success on the field, but also her outstanding achievement in the classroom where she posted a 3.95 cumulative grade point average in biology. Her eye-popping GPA was also a major factor in her being awarded the Richard Burns Senior Female Scholar-Athlete Award from the University back on May 1 at the year-end honors banquet.

"Emily Griffin was an outstanding representative of our program here at Franklin Pierce," said Richard Hurley, who served as her head coach all four years in Rindge. "She did everything well on the field and off the field, and her leadership was vital in setting a positive tone for our program. I will miss coaching her, but I will take with me some wonderful memories."

It marked the second-straight year Griffin was recognized by CoSIDA, as she also earned a spot on the organization's Academic All-District I Third-Team in 2010.

Bilafer earned a spot on the all-conference third-team, marking the first time in her career that she received all-league recognition. The outfielder had another strong defensive season in 2011 as she committed just two errors. It was the second-straight year she committed two errors or less in the field.

Bilafer also turned in a solid offensive performance in 2011 by batting .296 (second-highest average on the team), while blasting three triples and driving in 10 runs.

For more information on Franklin Pierce softball, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceAthletics).