NEW ORLEANS – Olivia Lackie, Kamdyn Kvistad and Mackenzie Brasher each earned Sun Belt Conference preseason all-league honors Thursday as voted on the coaches from around the league and announced by the conference office.

OLIVIA LACKIE | RHP | SOPHOMORE
Lackie, who was named to the 2022 Extra Elite 100 College Player Rankings by Extra Inning Softball earlier this spring earned first-team all-SBC honors and third-team all-South Region accolades by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association as a true freshman. She became just the second pitcher in program history to earn Sun Belt Conference weekly accolades four or more times in a season, joining Devin Brown who did so five times during the 2016 season. Lackie was also selected as the Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week (3/9) and the DISoftball Freshman of the Week last spring.

The 6-foot righty appeared in 42 games, making 26 starts in the circle, while going the distance 17 times. In her 194.2 innings of work, she recorded a 2.34 earned run average and struck out 250 batters. She also recorded four saves and eight total shutouts – seven solo and one combined.

The Walker, La., native led the Sun Belt in innings pitched, was second in strikeouts and tied for second in saves. She also ranked third in opposing batting average, strikeouts looking, fourth in wins and sixth in ERA. Lackie finished the season sitting among the NCAA leaders in both strikeouts (14th) and saves (T-14th). 

She struck out the side 19 times and recorded at least 2 or more strikeouts in 81 innings (41.6%) and recorded double-digit strikeouts seven times during this spring, with five of those going for 12 or more. Of her 587 put outs, 250 came by strikeout, while 338 were on balls put in play (42.6%). Of the 805 batters faced, Lackie was able to get ahead 0-2 in the count to 183 (22.7%) batters, retiring 150 (82.0%) of those batters and striking out 103 (68.7%) of those retired batters. She retired the side in order or faced the minimum in 76 (39.0%) of her innings of work    

Lackie set program freshman record for strikeouts in a season and holds the program mark for double-digit K's and shutouts by a freshman.


MACKENZIE BRASHER | OF | JUNIOR
A second-team all-SBC selection a year ago, Brasher was second on the club in batting average (.357), hits (50), multi-hit games (14) and stolen bases (8). She ranked ninth in the SBC in batting average and led the club in runs scored with 27, while registering three doubles and four RBI.

The Orange Beach, Ala., native had an eight-game reached base safely streak and a five-game hit streak during the season, and her 14 multi-hit games were tied for 21st-most in a single season at South. She had multi-hit games in four of her first seven game.

The junior outfielder started 49 games and played in all 52 of South Alabama's contests seeing time at two positions in the outfield – center (40) and left (9).  Brasher helped the Jaguars advance all the way to the championship game of the Sun Belt tournament and for her play, was named to the all-tournament team.


KAMDYN KVISTAD | UTL | SENIOR
One of the most versatile players on the Jaguar roster, Kvistad started 43 of 47 games, seeing time at three different positions – catcher (30), first base (9) and designated player (4) during the 2021 season. 

She batted .248 and finished with 31 hits – 18 of which went for extra bases – while posting a team-best .552 slugging percentage. Kvistad also crossed the plate 20 times and drove in 27 runs. Of her 27 RBI, 11 came with two outs. 

The Lake City, Fla., native lead the team in home runs with 10, which were tied for fourth among Sun Belt competition, and recorded eight doubles. She tied the program's career home run record (28) with a fourth-inning solo home run versus Texas State (5/15) in the semifinal game of the SBC Championship. For her play in the postseason, she was selected to the SBC Championship all-tournament squad.

During the season, Kvistad posted seven multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games. Her 52 career extra-base hits rank eighth all-time at South Alabama. 

2022 Sun Belt Softball Preseason Awards

Preseason Player of the Year: Sara Vanderford, Texas State

Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Leanna Johnson, Troy

Preseason All-Sun Belt
Olivia Lackie, South Alabama, P
Leanna Johnson, Troy, P
Kandra Lamb, Louisiana, P
Jessica Mullins, Texas State, P
Kamdyn Kvistad, South Alabama, C
Sophie Piskos, Louisiana, C
Faith Shirley, Georgia Southern, 1B
Kelly Horne, Troy, 2B
Daisy Hess, Georgia State, SS
Sara Vanderford, Texas State, 3B 
Iyanla De Jesus, Coastal Carolina, DP
Raina O'Neal, Louisiana, OF
Mackenzie Brasher, South Alabama, OF
Emily Brown, Georgia State, OF
Jade Sinness, Troy, OF

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

Join the Bullpen Club, the softball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  Members have access to purchase parking passes and receive Jaguar Softball gear.  All donations to the Bullpen Club go directly to support the South Alabama softball program.  For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/bullpenclub.

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