Courtesy of the Southern Conference

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford's Megan Dowdy and Mollie Hanson have been named Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, as voted by the league's head coaches and announced by the conference office on Tuesday. UNCG's Stephanie Bryden earned Freshman of the Year honors, and Samford's Mandy Burford was tabbed Coach of the Year.
 
The league's coaches also selected two all-conference teams and an all-freshman squad.
 
Dowdy's selection comes after she hit .411, drove in 34 runs and led the league in hits (79) and doubles (24) for the regular-season champion Bulldogs. The senior outfielder excelled in SoCon play, leading the league with a .472 batting average, 34 hits, 12 doubles, two triples and 53 total bases during conference action. Dowdy, a native of Fairhope, Ala., was error-free despite starting all 54 of the Bulldogs' contests, recording 103 putouts. She earned SoCon Player of the Week accolades on April 4 and claimed SoCon Player of the Month honors for April.
 
Hanson, a redshirt senior, was 20-8 in the circle and logged an ERA of 2.70 in 37 total appearances for Samford. Her 20 wins led the SoCon, and her ERA and opposing batting average (.243) were both good for top-three status in the league. The right-hander from Dothan, Ala., registered 119 strikeouts during the season compared to only 35 walks. Like Dowdy, Hanson stepped up her play in league action, lowering her ERA to a conference-best mark of 1.85 and her opposing batting average to .208 over the course of 72 innings. Hanson was the winner of 11 league contests, including back-to-back sweeps of Mercer and Chattanooga to open conference play. She garnered SoCon Pitcher of the Week honors on five different occasions and won the award three consecutive times to close the season. Hanson was named SoCon Pitcher of the Month for April.
 

Burford, who is in her fifth season at the helm of Samford, led the Bulldogs to their first SoCon regular-season title in program history since joining the league in 2008 and first regular-season championship in 25 years. The Bulldogs finished 37-18 (15-3 SoCon), and their conference winning percentage of .833 was the best since Georgia Southern's mark of .917 in 2012. This is Burford's first Coach of the Year honor of her career.
 
Samford led the way in all-conference balloting with seven players nabbing spots on the all-conference teams. Furman and UNCG have five representatives each, followed by Chattanooga (four) and Western Carolina and Mercer (three). Furman and Samford both have a league-high three All-SoCon first-teamers.
 
The first team features Hanson and Western Carolina's Taylor Sigmon at pitcher. UNCG's Thomas, who led the SoCon with 16 home runs, slots in at catcher, while Furman's AnnaRose Borrelli is at first base, Western Carolina's Crystal Cyr earned the nod at second base, Samford's Callie Brister is at third base and Furman's Sieara Bishop grabbed the shortstop spot.
 
Dowdy highlights the first-team outfield, which also includes Mercer's Taylor Miller and Furman's Candace Johnson. UNCG's Nicole Thomas and Mercer's Taylor Rodgers earned the designated player and utility spots, respectively.
 
Furman's Lindsey Bert and UNCG's Alicia Bazonski were voted on as second-team pitchers. Mercer catcher Natalie Shiver and Samford first baseman Caitlin Bice also garnered All-SoCon second-team honors. Ties at second base and shortstop resulted in Samford's Abbie Miranda, Chattanooga's Criket Blanco, Samford's Lexie Higgins and Western Carolina's Karley Harkey all earning second-team accolades.
 
In the outfield for the second team is UNCG's Allison Geiner, Samford's Shelby Maze and Chattanooga's Sam Taylor. Chattanooga newcomer Jordan Fortel is the second-team designated player, while Bert and another UTC rookie, Amanda Beltran, share the utility spot due to a tie.
 
The all-freshman squad includes Bryden, Beltran, Fortel, ETSU's Tiffany Laughren, Furman's Emily Demonte, Mercer's Lindsay Boynton and Shaila Warren, Samford's Kelsey Royalty and Hannah Trombley, Chattanooga's Ashley Conner and Western Carolina's Madison Armstrong. Eleven players made the team due to a tie.
 
The 2016 SoCon Softball Championship begins Wednesday at UNCG Softball Stadium in Greensboro, N.C. The tournament will culminate Saturday with the championship game(s) at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (if necessary). Saturday's action will be broadcast on ESPN3, and all other games will be available on the SoCon Digital Network.
 
2016 SoCon Softball Awards and All-Conference Teams
 
Player of the Year
Megan Dowdy, Samford, Sr., OF
 
Pitcher of the Year
Mollie Hanson, Samford, R-Sr.
 
Freshman of the Year
Stephanie Bryden, UNCG, P/DP
 
Coach of the Year
Mandy Burford, Samford
 
All-SoCon First Team
P    –   Mollie Hanson, Samford, R-Sr.
P    –   Taylor Sigmon, Western Carolina, Sr.
C    –   Lindsay Thomas, UNCG, Sr.
1B –   AnnaRose Borrelli, Furman, So.
2B –   Crystal Cyr, Western Carolina, Sr.
3B –   Callie Brister, Samford, Sr.
SS –   Sieara Bishop, Furman, Sr.
OF –   Candace Johnson, Furman, R-So.
OF –   Taylor Miller, Mercer, Jr. 
OF –   Megan Dowdy, Samford, Sr. 
DP –   Nicole Thomas, UNCG, Sr.
UT –   Taylor Rodgers, Mercer, Jr.
 
All-SoCon Second Team
P    –   Lindsey Bert, Furman, So.
P    –   Alicia Bazonski, UNCG, So.
C    –   Natalie Shiver, Mercer, Sr.
1B –   Caitlin Bice, Samford, Sr.
2B –   Abbie Miranda, Samford, Jr.
2B –   Criket Blanco, Chattanooga, Sr.
3B  –   Danielle Vega, UNCG, Sr.
SS –   Lexie Higgins, Samford, So.
SS –   Karley Harkey, Western Carolina, Sr.
OF –   Allison Geiner, UNCG, Sr.
OF –   Shelby Maze, Samford, So.
OF –   Sam Taylor, Chattanooga, Sr.
DP –   Jordan Fortel, Chattanooga, Fr. 
UT –   Lindsey Bert, Furman, So.
UT  –   Amanda Beltran, Chattanooga, Fr.
 
All-Freshman Team
Tiffany Laughren, ETSU, IF
Emily Demonte, Furman, P
Lindsay Boynton, Mercer, OF
Shaila Warren, Mercer, IF/OF
Stephanie Bryden, UNCG, P/DP 
Kelsey Royalty, Samford, OF
Hannah Trombley, Samford, C
Amanda Beltran, Chattanooga, C
Ashley Conner, Chattanooga, UT
Jordan Fortel, Chattanooga, P/UT 
Madison Armstrong, Western Carolina, C/UT