Erika Piancastelli

Erika Piancastelli (born June 20, 1996) is an Italian-American, former collegiate All-American, right-handed hitting softball catcher originally from Carlsbad, California. Born in Italy, Piancastelli eventually went to play college softball at McNeese State, at which she was a multiple record holder, is the Southland Conference leader in RBIs, home runs, doubles, slugging percentage and walks, and achieved a rare feat as the four-time conference Player of The Year. She also plays international softball for Italy and helped them earn a spot at the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics.[1] She is one of nine NCAA Division I softball hitters to amass a .400 batting average, 200 RBI, 50 home runs and an .800% slugging career.[2]

Erika Piancastelli
McNeese State Cowgirls – No. 16
Catcher/third baseman
Born: (1996-06-20) June 20, 1996
Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Teams

Early life and education

Born in Modena, Italy, Piancastelli moved to Carlsbad, California with her family at age five and graduated from Carlsbad High School in 2014.[3][4] She attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.[2] With the McNeese State Cowgirls softball team, she debuted on February 6, 2015 in a win against Florida Gulf Coast, with a 2/4 performance with a double and a RBI.[5] She would earn conference Freshman and Player of The Year accolades and was recognized Third Team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association after leading the team in hits, average, RBIs, home runs, doubles and slugging, the homers were a new school record and her hits and average career bests.[6][7] On March 6, Piancastelli hit two home runs to drive in a career-best 5 RBIs against the Sam Houston State Bearkats.[8]

In her sophomore campaign, Piancastelli earned her second conference and NFCA honors.[9][10] She broke the school records for home runs, slugging and walks, all career highs, the latter stat also set the conference standard. Beginning on March 3–18, the cowgirl went on an 11-consecutive-game hit streak batting: .469 (15/32) with 18 RBIs, 6 home runs, four doubles, 6 walks and slugging 1.687%.[11] Later, she would set a single game McNeese record with 5 walks on April 16, in a defeat of the Northwestern State Demons.[12] She would achieve a second single-game highlight for hits with a perfect day at the plate on May 13 against the Lamar Cardinals, with a 4/4 performance.[13]

As a junior, she earned her third Player of The Year for the Southland and set a career best with 26 stolen bases. Piancastelli joined an elite club by collecting her 50th career home run in only her third year on April 21 vs. the Lamar Cardinals, striking off pitcher Amie Cisneros for an eventual victory.[14] For a final year, Piancastelli was awarded her fourth and last Player of The Year honor. She set her last records with career-best RBIs and doubles. On April 27, Piancastelli tallied her 200th career RBI in a 5–0 win over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, hitting a solo home run in the first inning.[15]

Piancastelli currently owns nearly all offensive career records for the Cowgirls, not including hits and triples.[16] She is the Southland leader in RBIs, home runs, doubles, slugging and walks.[17] In all of the NCAA, she ranks 7th in walks and slugging for her career.[18]

Statistics

McNeese State Cowgirls

[19]

YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA
2015 55 158 49 68 .430 54 18 1 19 143 .905% 35 18 17 21
2016 57 145 65 62 .427 49 22 1 15 145 1.000% 69 17 11 14
2017 61 160 56 60 .375 49 13 1 8 109 .681% 63 18 26 31
2018 62 168 58 63 .375 60 22 1 20 151 .899% 62 22 16 22
TOTALS 235 631 228 253 .401 212 75 4 62 548 .868% 229 75 70 88
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References
  1. "Why Erika Piancastelli Is Loving Her Softball Experience In Italy". Flosoftball.com. 2017-06-30. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  2. "Erika Piancastelli - 2018 Softball - McNeese State University". Mcneesesports.com. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  3. Weathers, William (May 16, 2017). "McNeese State catcher Erika Piancastelli, a native of Italy, surpasses all of her expectations". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ...close-knit environment that reminded her of own family that moved from Modena, Italy, to California when she was 5.
  4. Salvini, Mario (April 21, 2016). "Erika, miglior fuoricampista negli Usa". La Gazzetta della Sport (in Italian). Retrieved June 27, 2018. Quando aveva 5 anni la famiglia si è resferita in California, a Carlsbad.
  5. "Softball Opens Season In Dramatic Fashion". Mcneesesports.com. 2015-02-06. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  6. "Piancastelli Named SLC Player, Hitter and Freshman of the Year". Mcneesesports.com. 2015-05-05. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  7. "2015 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS". Nfca.org. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  8. "Erika Piancastelli Homers Twice In Win Over Sam Houston State". Mcneesesports.com. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  9. "Piancastelli Named Southland Player and Hitter of the Year". Mcneesesports.com. 2016-05-09. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  10. "2016 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS". Nfca.org. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  11. "2016 Softball Schedule". Mcneesesports.com. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  12. "Softball Clinches SLC Series Over NW State With DH Win Saturday". Mcneesesports.com. 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  13. "No Doubt-Cowgirls are NCAA bound after 5-2 win over Lamar". McNeese State University Athletics.
  14. "Cowgirls Split DH With Lamar Friday". Mcneesesports.com. 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  15. "Piancastelli Breaks Southland HR Record Flores Pitches A Gem, Cowgirls Clinch Tournament Berth". Mcneesesports.com. 2018-04-27. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  16. "2021 McNeese Softball Record Book" (PDF). Mcneesesports.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  17. "Southland Softball" (PDF). Southland.org. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  18. "Division I Softball Records" (PDF). Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  19. "Archived Team-By-Team Final Statistics". Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
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