Whitney Arion joined the Eastern Kentucky program in the summer of 2015 after a stellar career at the University of Louisville.
In the 2018 season, Arion helped with the Colonels historic offensive outbreak. The Colonels ended as the fifth best home run hitting team in the country averaging 1.32 home runs per game. EKU ranked in the top five in the conference in batting average, doubles per game, home runs per game, scoring, slugging percentage and stolen bases.
She assisted in Paige Murphy having the best single season offensively in EKU softball history in 2018. Murphy posted a single season records in runs scored (67), hits (82), home runs (22), runs batted in (61) and total bases (167). Murphy finished the year ranked in the top 20 nationally in batting average, home runs per game, slugging percentage, runs per game, on base percentage, home runs, runs batted in, hits and total bases.
During the 2019 campaign the offense continued to flex its muscles behind Arions lead. The Colonels offense ranked in the top five in the conference in batting average, home runs per game, on base percentage, scoring, slugging percentage and stolen bases per game.
Under the Indiana native’s watch the Colonels were third in the conference in batting average with a .299 this season, missing the tie for first and second by .001. But, EKU claimed the conference doubles crown (93) and the second place spot in hits (461).
She also assisted in producing some of the leading offensive players in the conference who also broke EKU records in Rachel Minogue, Johnkyria Alston and Krislyn Campos. During the regular-season Minogue led the conference in batting average with a .421, the best by a Colonel in over 14 years, led in hits (69), was second in on-base percentage (.495), runs batted in (44), doubles (17) and total bases (98). The sophomore was only struck out nine times over 176 at-bats, making her one of the toughest to strike out in the league. She tied EKU’s single-game record for RBIs when she went 5-for-5 with a grand slam and eight runs driven in at Tennessee State on April 14. The First Team All-Conference selection concluded a stellar sophomore campaign by being named Second Team All-Region. Alston led the conference in doubles (19) and RBIs (46). Meanwhile, Campos took sole possession of the single-season (48) and career (152) records.
In Arion's first year, the Colonels were second in the league, hitting .298 on the year. EKU's Paige Murphy and Kayla Joyce were first and second, respectively, individually hitting .395 and .390.
The EKU duo were also in the top three in hits, while Murphy's 42 runs scored were second in the OVC.
During her time at UofL, Arion was a four-year starter in the infield for the Cardinals. She earned All-Big East Conference honors as a freshman and a sophomore, was a second team All-American Athletic Conference choice in 2014 and capped her career by earning first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition as a senior.
“Whitney loves softball,” said Worthington. “She has competed at the top level and brings that experience with her to EKU. She also brings outstanding intensity and energy.”
As a senior, Arion hit .321 with four home runs, 27 RBIs and 32 runs scored. She had a .489 slugging percentage and a .466 on-base percentage.
“I'm excited to say I'm part of the family here at Eastern Kentucky University,” Arion said. “I appreciate the opportunity that Jane Worthington has given me to help lead this program and I’m looking forward to working with her and her staff.”
Arion played in the National Pro Fastpitch League with the Pennsylvania Rebellion in the summer of 2015. She appeared in 38 games and started half of them at shortstop. She posted a .208 batting average in 54 appearances and had a .963 fielding percentage. She plans to get back into professional softball in the near future.
Arion previously worked with Louisville softball camps, university tours and visits, First Assembly of God Mega Sports Camp and has done private hitting and defensive lessons.
