CHICAGO -- The University of St. Francis softball program had five Saints claiming six awards when the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2025 softball postseason honor roll.  The six accolades were tied for the second-most in the nine-member league.

Garnering two honors was Kiersten Manning, while along with Manning, Jaelynn Taylor was recognized by the conference for the second year in a row.  Earning all-league commendations for the first time were Emily Hurst and Kylie Cook, while Rose Mwaro picked up conference accolades for the third straight year.

Being named to the 2025 CCAC All-Conference First Team were Hurst, Mwaro and Cook, while Manning and Taylor collected Second Team accolades.

Manning also garnered recognition as part of the CCAC Gold Glove Team.

Hurst, a junior from Aurora, Ill., led the Saints in 11 statistical categories highlighted by her .409 batting average, .667 slugging percentage and .424 on-base percentage.  The shortstop also claimed the club's top spot in OPS (1.091), total hits (54), home runs (5), doubles (15), RBIs (24), total bases (88), extra bases hits (22) and defensive assists (52).

In the conference, Hurst ranked among the top eight players in eight departments topped by her No. 2 placement in slugging percentage and No. 3 recordings in home runs, doubles, total bases and extra base hits.  She is also placed sixth overall in batting average, seventh in total hits and eighth in on-base percentage.

Mwaro also produced solid numbers as a Saint in her third year with the program this spring.  Repeating as a first-team honoree from two years ago, the graduate senior outfielder also gained second team honors in 2024.  Mwaro ranked first on the Saint leaderboard in runs scored (21), while placing second in doubles (8).  Other high team marks for Mwaro include her No. 3 billing in in batting average (.365), OPS (.840), on-base percentage (.396), and RBIs (17).

Cook, a third baseman, produced her best numbers thus far in her career in 2025.  The sophomore ranked second on the team in doubles (8), RBIs (18), sacrifice bunts (7) and defensive assists (51), while securing the No. 4 spot in OPS (.797).

Manning's 163 strikeouts and 12 wins in the circle garnered her second-team distinction.  The senior pitcher also ranked first on the team and locked in a Top 5 placement in the conference in starts (21), innings pitched (149.2), strikeouts/7 innings (7.62), batters faced (663), appearances (30), WHIP (1.34), saves (1), and ERA (2.90).

A first-team all-conference selection in 2024, Manning was also named the CCAC Pitcher of the Week on four separate occasions during the 2025 season.  She set a school record with her 17 strikeouts against Concordia University (Mich.) on March 2 and also was named the 2025 CCAC Gold Glove recipient in the pitching position.

Taylor rounded out the list of award recipients by repeating as a second team honoree in back-to-back years.  The junior first baseman was the frontrunner for the Saints in sacrifice flies (4) and HBP (3), and ranked second on the club in batting average (.381), OPS (.972), slugging percentage (.552), on-base percentage (.420), doubles (8), runs scored (20), RBIs (18) and put outs (96).  She also placed in the Top 10 among league competitors in five separate categories, including eighth in home runs, ninth in batting average and slugging percentage, and tenth overall in triples and HBP.

Taylor also collected CCAC Player of the Week accolades on one occasion during the 2024-25 season.

USF, under first year head coach Alyssa Moreno, finished the 2025 campaign at 20-20.  At the league level, the Saints went 12-4 to place second among nine teams and advanced to the CCAC Tournament.

For the all-conference release, go to CCAC.  For the complete awards list, go to List.

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.