Contact: John Sinnett

O'Bryan and Harris Ranked Nationally Among Softball's Best

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – In the first edition of the 2003 NCAA Softball statistics release, Campbell University Softball players Shannon O'Bryan and Holly Harris are ranked among the nation's best.

O'Bryan, a senior from Louisville, Ky., ranks seventh nationally with a 0.471 batting average in the April 13 release. Heading into this weekend's action, her average has dropped slightly to 0.463. O'Bryan has hit safely 56 times in 119 at-bats. Freshman Amber Jackson of Bethune-Cookman leads the nation with a 0.527 average (87-165).

The Camels leader in nearly every batting statistic this season, O'Bryan has made her mark on the Campbell softball record books. She is the all-time leader in career home runs (39); ranks second in RBI (146), runs (141), doubles (53), and triples (19); ranks third in hits (251) and batting average (0.396); and ranks eighth in at-bats (634). For her career, O'Bryan has amassed a slugging percentage of 0.724 which would be the third best single season mark in CU history. With her 10 home runs this season, she also owns the top three single season marks in that category (14 in 2001, 10 in 2003, and 9 in 2002).

One of the top pitchers on the CU staff, Harris 0.92 ERA ranks her 18th in the country. Since the rankings, Harris, a sophomore from Whitby, Ontario, has been able to drop that mark down to 0.86. Harris is 6-8 on the season with three shutouts. Holding opposing batters to hitting just .205, Harris has allowed only 13 earned runs this season. Sophomore Cat Osterman of Texas leads the nation with a 0.38 ERA.

Harris' 154 career strikeouts ranks eighth all-time and she is tied for sixth with seven career shutouts. She is on pace to finish the season second on both the single season ERA chart (0.86) and on the career ERA chart (1.48). In each she will be just behind current Campbell pitching coach Christine Hornak who is the only Camel to finish a season with an ERA under 1.00 (0.80 in 1994).

O'Bryan, Harris and the Fighting Camel softball team will compete this weekend as they take on Samford in Birmingham, Ala. on Friday and Jacksonville State in Jacksonville, Ala. on Saturday. The first pitch of Friday's doubleheader is slated for 4:00 p.m., while Saturday's action is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.

For the complete NCAA individual and team rankings, go to the official website of the NCAA, www.ncaa.org.

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