NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of South Alabama softball senior third baseman Emily Messer was selected 31^st overall by the Akron Racers in the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch Draft on Thursday.
 
Messer becomes the third South Alabama softball student-athlete to be chosen in the NPF Draft in as many years, joining the likes of former standouts Hannah Campbell (3^rd overall; Akron Racers; 2014) and Farish Beard (33^rd overall; Dallas Charge; 2015).
 
The Mobile, Ala., native has been on a tear in her collegiate swan song, leading the Jags at the plate in batting average (.463), hits (57), runs (34), triples (5), slugging percentage (.610) and on-base percentage (.518), in addition to protecting the hot corner with a .949 fielding percentage.
 
"I did not expect this, but I am really excited," Messer said following the announcement. "It's something I never thought would be possible, but three years of hard work under [assistant] Coach [Kristina] McCain and [head] Coach [Becky] Clark has helped me put everything together this year.
 
"I wanted to go out with a bang," she concluded.
 
As it stands, Messer is in line to finish with the highest batting average and slugging percentage for a Jaguar in a single season. She's also seven runs and 15 hits from setting another pair of season standards. Messer currently owns 10 career triples, and she's one away from a new program mark in that category.

South Alabama head coach Becky Clark said, "I speak for her teammates and the staff when I say how happy we are for Messer right now. She has earned her success and definitely deserves to play at the next level. Her speed and athleticism make her a great fit for the NPF, but her work ethic and blue-collar mentality make her an even better fit for the Akron Racers."
 
Messer is joined in this year's class for the Akron Racers by Jailyn Ford (P, James Madison), Sami Fagan (INF, Missouri), Alex Hugo (INF, Georgia), Geri Ann Glasco (UT, Oregon), Sandra Simmons (1B, LSU), Hannah Day (C, Troy) and Hannah Perryman (P, Missouri-St. Louis).

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).