May 11, 2010
DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University softball senior Desanbra Franklin has been selected as the NCCU Student-Athlete of the Month for April 2010, sponsored by The Banks Law Firm. The outfielder is being honored for her outstanding achievement in the classroom, on the softball diamond and in the community.
Franklin, a native of Piqua, Ohio, has been a major force on the diamond for the Lady Eagles this season, leading them to a 7-37 record. She remained the most consistent student-athlete on the field and capped off her career with her best numbers to date as she led the Lady Eagles in every offensive category.
She will add this accomplishment to her two previous honors, in which she was recently named the NCCU Female Student-Athlete of the Year, while being named Most Valuable Player of the 2010 Lady Eagle softball team. Franklin is also a candidate for NCAA Division I Softball All-Independent Player of the Year.
The Lady Eagles' power hitter started in all 44 games this season for the Lady Eagles, where she notched a .346 batting average with 22 runs scored, 44 hits, 12 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 25 RBIs. Her consistency at the plate allowed for a .614 slugging percentage. Franklin was the only Lady Eagle to go the entire season without an error as she recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage.
During the month of April, she started in all 14 games. She racked in a .357 batting average after hitting above .400 in seven of 14 games. Franklin went 15-for-42 at the dish with five runs scored, 13 RBIs, two doubles, two triples and two home runs. Her powerful hitting throughout the month earned her a .643 slugging percentage.
Franklin struck out just four times in the month. She had her best outing in game one of doubleheader action at Hampton, where she went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored, three RBIs, a home run, a sacrifice and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
The senior outfielder spent just three seasons with the Lady Eagle softball program, but she has left her mark in the history books. She notched a career batting average of .317 with 120 hits, 66 runs scored, 23 doubles, nine triples and nine home runs. Franklin totaled 78 career RBIs and has started in 130-of-132 career games.
She is the daughter of Dennis and Desiree Franklin. She graduated from Piqua High School in Piqua, Ohio. When she isn't playing softball, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, shopping, listening to music and being inspired and enlightened.
Franklin wears No. 13 on the softball field, but she will hang up the softball uniform and replace it with a valuable jewel that can never be replaced. On Saturday, May 15, she will walk across the stage and receive her bachelor's degree in psychology. She plans to pursue a career in speech-language pathology.
For more information on Lady Eagles softball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
