Southern Miss Softball Players Earn All-Sun Belt Honors
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Four members of the University of Southern Mississippi softball team earned All-Sun Belt honors Tuesday. The awards were led by first-team selection Hannah Christian and second-team catcher Kayce Bennett, with two players receiving honorable mention.
Christian, a sophomore outfielder, was named to the All-Sun Belt First Team. She recorded 73 hits this season, ranking sixth in program history for single-season hits. She also totaled 11 doubles, two triples, and five home runs. Christian batted .386 and had 20 multi-hit games, tying for sixth in stolen bases with 14. She also posted a perfect fielding percentage through 56 starts, with 91 putouts and one double play, according to the school.
Kayce Bennett, a redshirt sophomore catcher, made the second team. She appeared in 50 games, starting 48, and led the Sun Belt with 13 runners caught stealing. Bennett recorded a .993 fielding percentage with only one error and contributed offensively with a .767 OPS, nine doubles, five home runs, and 20 RBIs. Her defensive skills helped the Golden Eagles achieve a team fielding percentage of .976, ranking 15th nationally.
Nealy McManus, a senior shortstop, received honorable mention. She started all 56 games, committed just three errors, and recorded 124 assists. Offensively, she hit .306 with a .443 on-base percentage, including 12 doubles, a triple, and her first career home run. McManus also drew 31 walks and was perfect on five stolen base attempts.
Pitcher Kayla Giardina also earned honorable mention. She threw the program’s fourth perfect game and finished the regular season with a 17-9 record. Giardina posted a 2.53 ERA, threw 13 complete games, and recorded five shutouts. Her exceptional season earned her the Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week award in week 12.
The Golden Eagles are set to face South Alabama in the Sun Belt Championship Tournament on May 6 at 7 p.m. Follow Southern Miss Softball on Facebook, X, and Instagram for updates.
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