4 Lady Flames Named to NFCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region Team
5/15/2025 2:34:00 PM | Softball
The Liberty softball team placed four players on the 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NCAA Division I All-Mid-Atlantic Region Softball Team. Senior outfielders KK Madrey and Rachel Roupe were both named to the first team, while senior pitcher Elena Escobar and redshirt junior shortstop Savanah Whatley were voted to the second team.
A total of 380 players from 146 different softball programs nationally have been selected to the 2025 NFCA Division I All-Region teams. The all-region teams were voted upon by NFCA member coaches from each region, and all honorees are now eligible to be chosen for one of the three 2025 NFCA Division I All-America teams. The NFCA All-America squads will be announced on May 28.
Liberty has now received 32 NFCA All-Region selections all-time, including 23 under 12th-year head coach Dot Richardson. The Lady Flames have been represented on the NFCA All-Region team every year since 2017. Liberty's four All-Region players are its most since 2019, when five Lady Flames received NFCA All-Mind-Atlantic Region honors.
After being in the NFCA's Southeast Region until 2010, the Lady Flames were in the Mid-Atlantic Region for All-Region Awards from 2011-19. Liberty returned to the Southeast Region during its last three years in the ASUN (2021-23). The Lady Flames were in the Mideast Region last year before returning to the Mid-Atlantic Region this season.
Last week, Escobar, Madrey, Roupe and Whatley were all named to the Conference USA All-Conference first team. Roupe was named CUSA Player of the Year, while Escobar was CUSA Pitcher of the Year and Whatley was voted CUSA Newcomer of the Year. Escobar and Madrey were voted to the Conference USA All-Tournament Team, with Escobar garnering CUSA Tournament MVP honors.
A four-time all-conference outfielder, 2025 CUSA Player of the Year Rachel Roupe has saved her best season for last. Roupe bats .382 for the season while leading all CUSA players with 18 doubles, 20 homers (tied) and 64 RBI. She is tied for 12th in NCAA Division I softball in doubles (18) and 14th in homers (20), 19th in RBI (64) and 10th in total bases (146). In conference play, Roupe led all CUSA hitters in batting average (.486), slugging percentage (1.149), OPS (1.745), runs (27), home runs (13) and RBI (39). Last Monday, Roupe became the first player to be named CUSA Softball Player of the Week five times in a single season.
Elena Escobar backed up her stellar junior campaign with an even better senior season. She has posted a 22-3 record with five shutouts overall while tying for first in CUSA in overall wins (22), second in ERA (1.83), strikeouts (160) and opponents' batting average (.201). In conference play, Escobar was a perfect 12-0 with a 1.33 ERA, leading all CUSA pitchers in conference-only ERA (1.33) and opponents' batting average (.168). She contributed over half of Liberty's conference victories, earning at least one win in all nine CUSA series. Escobar was nearly unhittable in the CUSA Championship, going 3-0 with two shutouts.
Savanah Whatley has made a major impact on the Liberty lineup and infield during her first season since transferring from Oregon State. The starting shortstop, Whatley has been sensational at that position in the field and equally as effective at the plate. Whatley is ranked fourth on the team with a .354 batting average, well above her career average entering the season. She hit her first career home run on March 14 at Kentucky. Whatley went 4-for-4 at Louisiana Tech on April 26, the first Lady Flame this season with a four-hit game. Additionally, she played a big role in Liberty's win over No. 12 Alabama with a career-high three RBI.
KK Madrey has had an amazing senior season, playing an elite center field while also serving as one of the top basestealers in the nation. She has stolen a program-record 48 bases, ranking third among all NCAA Division I softball players so far this season. Madrey is ranked second in CUSA in conference-only batting average (.430) and third in overall batting average (.406). She has 20 multiple hit games, including five three-hit contests. She has also stolen three bases in a game five times. Madrey has been on a tear lately, reaching base safely in each of the last 17 games leading into Regionals. A highlight-reel play waiting to happen, Madrey has made numerous SC Top 10-worthy catches this season.
The Lady Flames (47-12) are currently in College Station, Texas, preparing for tomorrow's NCAA College Station Regional opener against Marist. That game will air live on ESPN+ at 1 p.m. tomorrow. The Lady Flames are making their fifth straight NCAA Regional appearance after claiming the Conference USA Softball Championship for the second year in a row. Â Â
Â
A total of 380 players from 146 different softball programs nationally have been selected to the 2025 NFCA Division I All-Region teams. The all-region teams were voted upon by NFCA member coaches from each region, and all honorees are now eligible to be chosen for one of the three 2025 NFCA Division I All-America teams. The NFCA All-America squads will be announced on May 28.
Liberty has now received 32 NFCA All-Region selections all-time, including 23 under 12th-year head coach Dot Richardson. The Lady Flames have been represented on the NFCA All-Region team every year since 2017. Liberty's four All-Region players are its most since 2019, when five Lady Flames received NFCA All-Mind-Atlantic Region honors.
After being in the NFCA's Southeast Region until 2010, the Lady Flames were in the Mid-Atlantic Region for All-Region Awards from 2011-19. Liberty returned to the Southeast Region during its last three years in the ASUN (2021-23). The Lady Flames were in the Mideast Region last year before returning to the Mid-Atlantic Region this season.
Last week, Escobar, Madrey, Roupe and Whatley were all named to the Conference USA All-Conference first team. Roupe was named CUSA Player of the Year, while Escobar was CUSA Pitcher of the Year and Whatley was voted CUSA Newcomer of the Year. Escobar and Madrey were voted to the Conference USA All-Tournament Team, with Escobar garnering CUSA Tournament MVP honors.
A four-time all-conference outfielder, 2025 CUSA Player of the Year Rachel Roupe has saved her best season for last. Roupe bats .382 for the season while leading all CUSA players with 18 doubles, 20 homers (tied) and 64 RBI. She is tied for 12th in NCAA Division I softball in doubles (18) and 14th in homers (20), 19th in RBI (64) and 10th in total bases (146). In conference play, Roupe led all CUSA hitters in batting average (.486), slugging percentage (1.149), OPS (1.745), runs (27), home runs (13) and RBI (39). Last Monday, Roupe became the first player to be named CUSA Softball Player of the Week five times in a single season.
Elena Escobar backed up her stellar junior campaign with an even better senior season. She has posted a 22-3 record with five shutouts overall while tying for first in CUSA in overall wins (22), second in ERA (1.83), strikeouts (160) and opponents' batting average (.201). In conference play, Escobar was a perfect 12-0 with a 1.33 ERA, leading all CUSA pitchers in conference-only ERA (1.33) and opponents' batting average (.168). She contributed over half of Liberty's conference victories, earning at least one win in all nine CUSA series. Escobar was nearly unhittable in the CUSA Championship, going 3-0 with two shutouts.
Savanah Whatley has made a major impact on the Liberty lineup and infield during her first season since transferring from Oregon State. The starting shortstop, Whatley has been sensational at that position in the field and equally as effective at the plate. Whatley is ranked fourth on the team with a .354 batting average, well above her career average entering the season. She hit her first career home run on March 14 at Kentucky. Whatley went 4-for-4 at Louisiana Tech on April 26, the first Lady Flame this season with a four-hit game. Additionally, she played a big role in Liberty's win over No. 12 Alabama with a career-high three RBI.
KK Madrey has had an amazing senior season, playing an elite center field while also serving as one of the top basestealers in the nation. She has stolen a program-record 48 bases, ranking third among all NCAA Division I softball players so far this season. Madrey is ranked second in CUSA in conference-only batting average (.430) and third in overall batting average (.406). She has 20 multiple hit games, including five three-hit contests. She has also stolen three bases in a game five times. Madrey has been on a tear lately, reaching base safely in each of the last 17 games leading into Regionals. A highlight-reel play waiting to happen, Madrey has made numerous SC Top 10-worthy catches this season.
The Lady Flames (47-12) are currently in College Station, Texas, preparing for tomorrow's NCAA College Station Regional opener against Marist. That game will air live on ESPN+ at 1 p.m. tomorrow. The Lady Flames are making their fifth straight NCAA Regional appearance after claiming the Conference USA Softball Championship for the second year in a row. Â Â
Â
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballCoach Richardson, Elena Escobar & Rachel Roupe Talk About The Game Against Oregon
Sunday, May 25
Coach Richardson, Rachel Roupe & Paige Doerr Talk About The Game Against Oregon
Saturday, May 24
Lady Flames Softball Podcast: Breaking Down Liberty vs. Oregon, Rachel Roupe Drafted and More!
Thursday, May 22
Coach Richardson Talks About Preparing For Oregon
Tuesday, May 20