LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of South Alabama softball players Olivia Lackie and Mackenzie Brasher were both named third-team all-South region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Thursday.
The honor marks the second-straight recognition by the organization for Lackie, while it was the first of Brasher's career. Both Brasher and Lackie's selections mark the 20th and 21st overall all-region selections for the program and the second-straight season that the program has multiple players receive all-region honors.
Brasher and Lackie were two of 381 student-athletes from 152 programs to receive 2022 NFCA Division I All-Region accolades on Thursday.
The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first, second and third-team selections. NFCA member head coaches from each respective region nominated student-athletes and voted for the teams. All awarded student-athletes now become eligible for the 2022 NFCA Division I All-America squads.
The 2022 NFCA Division I All-America teams, voted on by the NFCA DI All-American Committee, will be announced on Wednesday, June 1.
Lackie earned first-team all-conference honors for the second straight spring after leading the club with a 14-7 record, three saves and a 2.02 earned run average. The Walker, La., native also struck out 208 – 69 looking – in 155.2 innings of work, while holding opponents to a .168 batting average. She made 31 appearances in the circle, while going the distance in 17 of her 21 starts. She also recorded eight shutouts – seven solo – on the year.
The sophomore right-hander led the Sun Belt in saves, while ranking second in opposing batting average, third in ERA, strikeouts, strikeouts looking, and fifth in innings pitched. She earned her fifth career SBC Player of Week honor after tossing a pair of complete-game shutouts against Coastal Carolina in leading South Alabama to a series sweep.
Of her 17 complete games, 14 game against league foes with six of her shutouts also coming in conference play. Lackie's other numbers have been even better against the Sun Belt. She holds a sub-2.00 ERA at 1.61, while striking out 129, only allowing 50 hits, issuing 25 walks and holding league opponents to a .149 batting average. Five of her six double-digit strikeout performances came in SBC play.
Brasher – a preseason all-Sun Belt selection as well as a league all-tournament and second-team honoree a year ago – earned first-team accolades for the first time in her career this spring for the Jags. She was one of the most consistent hitters not only on the South Alabama roster, but in the Sun Belt as she has recorded a hit in 18 of her 22 conference games, while reaching base safely at least once every time out against league foes with the exception of two games.
The Orange Beach, Ala., leads the team at the plate with a .341 batting average, which ranks just outside the top 10 of the conference, and her 20 stolen bases are seventh-most in the conference. She recorded a team-best 11 multi-hit games, eight of which came in conference play. Brasher scored a team-best 30 runs this spring for the Jags and had a career-best 11-game hit streak, which ranked 10th on the program records list, and a 21-game reached base safely streak, which ranked sixth, during the second half of the season.
Brasher has also made several outstanding catches in centerfield her she didn't committ an error in a SBC game and just two in her 70 opportunities this season.
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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