Six Bulldogs Earn All-SoCon Honors, Shaw Named Player of the Year
5.5.26 | Softball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Samford softball team had six members earn All-Southern Conference honors this afternoon when the league office announced its award winners this afternoon. Samford infielder Olivia Shaw has been named the Southern Conference Player of the Year, while Shaw, Katie Campbell, and Brandy Phillips were named to the first team. Makinley Turner and Addison Smith were named to the second team and Reese Hickey was named a member of the freshman team.
Shaw, who was the SoCon Preseason Player of the Year, finished the season in the top 10 in the SoCon in seven offensive categories, including leading the conference in doubles (17). The native of Hoschton, Georgia, leads the Bulldogs in batting average (.381), hits (64), and runs (43). The junior, who played and started all 55 games for Samford, finished the season with 18 multi-hit games and two or more RBIs in a game on 15 occasions. Shaw is the Bulldogs' fourth SoCon Player of the Year, the first since Mary Katherine Tedder in 2022.
Campbell was named to the first team after playing and starting all 55 games this season. She led the conference with 18 home runs, which set a school record. She hit .352 and led the Dogs with 54 RBIs. A native of Cape Coral, Florida, Campbell finished in the top five in the conference in OPS, RBIs, and total bases.
In her first season with the Bulldogs, Phillips earned first-team honors after doing everything for the Dogs this season. The Beulah native appeared in all 55 games this season, playing center field, third base, first base, and pitching. She hit .286 on the year with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs. She threw 71 innings, making 13 starts and 18 appearances with a 4.63 earned run average with 48 strikeouts.
Smith caught fire in the second part of the season as she earned second-team SoCon honors. The junior outfielder started 48 of the 49 games she appeared in, and was third on the team with an average of .328. Turner finished as the ace of the Bulldogs staff. After missing nearly a month in the middle of the season, the Thorsby, Ala. native finished with an 8-8 record and an ERA of 2.88, sixth best in the SoCon. She threw 92.1 innings and finished with 11 complete games and struck out 84 batters.
Hickey was named to the freshman team after she burst onto the scene in conference play. She finished the year with a 5-1 mark after making 20 appearances, where she threw 55.1 innings. She had two complete game shutouts and finished with an ERA of 3.42, which was second best on the team.
The Bulldogs are back in action on Thursday when they play their first game of the SoCon Tournament. They will face the ETSU/Mercer versus Western Carolina winner at noon.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford softball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordSB (Twitter), and @SamfordSB (Instagram).
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Shaw, who was the SoCon Preseason Player of the Year, finished the season in the top 10 in the SoCon in seven offensive categories, including leading the conference in doubles (17). The native of Hoschton, Georgia, leads the Bulldogs in batting average (.381), hits (64), and runs (43). The junior, who played and started all 55 games for Samford, finished the season with 18 multi-hit games and two or more RBIs in a game on 15 occasions. Shaw is the Bulldogs' fourth SoCon Player of the Year, the first since Mary Katherine Tedder in 2022.
Campbell was named to the first team after playing and starting all 55 games this season. She led the conference with 18 home runs, which set a school record. She hit .352 and led the Dogs with 54 RBIs. A native of Cape Coral, Florida, Campbell finished in the top five in the conference in OPS, RBIs, and total bases.
In her first season with the Bulldogs, Phillips earned first-team honors after doing everything for the Dogs this season. The Beulah native appeared in all 55 games this season, playing center field, third base, first base, and pitching. She hit .286 on the year with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs. She threw 71 innings, making 13 starts and 18 appearances with a 4.63 earned run average with 48 strikeouts.
Smith caught fire in the second part of the season as she earned second-team SoCon honors. The junior outfielder started 48 of the 49 games she appeared in, and was third on the team with an average of .328. Turner finished as the ace of the Bulldogs staff. After missing nearly a month in the middle of the season, the Thorsby, Ala. native finished with an 8-8 record and an ERA of 2.88, sixth best in the SoCon. She threw 92.1 innings and finished with 11 complete games and struck out 84 batters.
Hickey was named to the freshman team after she burst onto the scene in conference play. She finished the year with a 5-1 mark after making 20 appearances, where she threw 55.1 innings. She had two complete game shutouts and finished with an ERA of 3.42, which was second best on the team.
The Bulldogs are back in action on Thursday when they play their first game of the SoCon Tournament. They will face the ETSU/Mercer versus Western Carolina winner at noon.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford softball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordSB (Twitter), and @SamfordSB (Instagram).
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