MOBILE, Ala. – With her performance this past week at the Sun Belt Conference Championship, University of South Alabama softball's Victoria Ortiz was named to the all-tournament team on Saturday. Her selection marks the 23rd overall and the 17th individual to earn an all-tournament honor.
Ortiz earned the all-tournament selection after batting .600 (6-for-10) with a double, two home runs, a walk, three runs scored and four RBI. The Mobile, Ala., native recorded multiple hits in all three games of the tournament for South, and posted a 1.300 slugging percentage.
Ortiz's 13 total bases in the conference tournament tied with Kennedy Cronan's (2021) and Brittany Fowler's (2012) program mark, but Ortiz managed to accomplish the mark in less games as the other two reached the championship game of their respective tournaments.
The two home runs at the league championship event are also tied for the most with Cronan and Fowler at a tournament, while the redshirt junior also ranked among the program's top 10 in hits (T-third) and runs scored (T-ninth).
Ortiz opened up tournament play with a 2-for-3 performance with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in the Jags' 10-2 victory over Georgia State in the opener. She then drove in both of South Alabama's runs against Texas State on Thursday, before closing out her tournament play with two more hits against Coastal Carolina. Ortiz had a streak during the tournament where she reached base safely in five straight plate appearances.
Overall, Ortiz is batting .317 and 26 of her 38 hits have gone for extra bases this spring. She leads the team in doubles (12), home runs (12), RBI (34), total bases (90) and slugging percentage (.750), while also ranking in the top 10 of the Sun Belt in those same categories. The outfielder ranks third in the SBC in slugging percentage, tied for third in home runs, fifth in on base + slugging percentage (OPS) at 1.165, tied for sixth in doubles, tied for sixth in hit by pitch (6), tied for ninth in triples (2) and 10th in RBI.
2022 SUN BELT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Sophie Mooney, Georgia State
Kelly Horne, Troy
VICTORIA ORTIZ, SOUTH ALABAMA
Makiya Thomas, Coastal Carolina
Kaitlin Beasley-Polka, Coastal Carolina
Jessica Mullins, Texas State
Sara Vanderford, Texas State
Meghan Schorman, Louisiana
Alexa Langeliers, Louisiana
Raina O'Neal, Louisiana – Most Outstanding Player
EVERETT EARNS EXTRA MILE AWARD
Freshman pitcher Rachel Everett was also awarded the program's "Extra Mile" Award winner on Saturday, as voted on by teammates and coaching staff. The "Extra Mile" Award, which began during the 2010 season, is given to the softball player who routinely goes above and beyond the call of duty both on the field and off. This player exemplifies unselfishness, hard work, positive attitude and the true meaning of a great teammate.
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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