SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Samford softball team earned Southern Conference honors today as the league announced their all-conference teams this afternoon. The Bulldogs had six individuals named to the teams as Olivia Shaw was named First-Team All SoCon while Sarah Squillace, Grier Bruce, and McKayla Cothran earned Second Team honors. Joi Hubbard and Ella Nelson were named to the league's Freshman Team.

After being named Co-Freshman of the Year last season, Shaw followed up with a stellar sophomore campaign. She is top five in nearly every offensive category in the league and leads it in doubles with 21 which is tied for second in the nation. The Georgia native hit .386 in the regular season and carried an OPS of 1.167 while being fourth in the conference with 51 RBIs second in runs scored with 47. Shaw was a first-team selection as an infielder and designated player.

The Bulldogs landed three players on the second team as Grier Bruce and Sarah Squillace made it as infielders while McKayla Cothran made it as an outfielder. Bruce started all 52 games for the Dogs at third base. She hit .322 at the plate with seven home runs and 35 RBIs. Squillace makes the second team for the second straight season after starting every game this season, primarily at second base. She was second on the team with a .342 batting average. The senior elevated her play in SoCon action as she hit .444 during league play while scoring 31 runs which is third most on the team. Cothran makes a SoCon team for the fourth straight season with the Bulldogs. She started all 42 games she appeared in as an outfielder and hit .317 at the plate. She swiped 13 bags, scored 29 runs, and drove in 26 while playing an elite level centerfield in the SoCon.

Joi Hubbard and Ella Nelson made their mark immediately after stepping on campus as freshmen this season. Hubbard started all 42 games she appeared in, playing center and right field. She hit .323 and was second on the team in runs scored with 36. The Albany, Ga. native set the single-season stolen base record with 28 which led the conference. Nelson started 44 of the 46 games she saw action in, playing at shortstop and second base. She hit .302 on the year and had the third-highest on-base percentage on the team at .405. She had a three home run game at Western Carolina that earned her SoCon Player of the Week honors.

The Bulldogs begin postseason play at the SoCon Tournament on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. Samford is slated to face the winner of the ETSU and Western Carolina game to start the double-elimination tournament that will see a champion crowned on Saturday, May 10.

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