HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana junior Madisen Blackford was a repeat selection on the Southland Conference Softball All-Academic Teams, which were released by the league office on Wednesday.
 
Blackford was named to the first team for the second consecutive year. The accounting major from Des Moines, Iowa carried a 3.67 cumulative grade point average into the spring semester.
 
Blackford posted a .379 batting average, 25 hits, three triples and 19 RBI in the 23 games played during the 2020 campaign. She finished the year ranked among the league leaders in hits, triples, runs batted in and sacrifice flies. The 2019 first team All-Southland selection was named the Southland Hitter of the Week on Feb. 11 after helping SLU to a 5-0 finish at the Lion Classic.
 
The All-Academic teams are voted on by head coaches, sports information directors and academic/compliance staff members from each Southland Conference institution. Student-athletes must possess a cumulative grade point average of a 3.0 or higher and have completed at least one full academic year at the institution.
 
The Southland Conference awards committee, which consists of one administrator from each of the 13 member schools, selects the Student-Athlete of the Year. This year's Student-Athlete of the Year is Sam Houston State's Megan McDonald.
 
2020 Southland Conference Softball All-Academic Teams
 
Student-Athlete of the Year: Megan McDonald, Sam Houston State
 
First Team
 
Name – School – Class – Hometown – GPA – Major
Madisen Blackford – Southeastern Louisiana – Jr. – Des Moines, Iowa – 3.67 – Accounting
Samantha Bradley – Abilene Christian – Jr. – Azle, Texas – 3.86 – Mathematics
Reagan Sperling – Central Arkansas – Jr. – Sherwood, Ark. – 3.85 – Education
Tylar Vernon – Central Arkansas – So. – Pangburn, Ark. – 4.0 – Family and Consumer Science
Caitlyn Brockaway – Houston Baptist – So. – Tomball, Texas – 3.58 – Psychology
Jade Lewis – Lamar – Sr. – Mont Belvieu, Texas – 4.0 – Exercise Science
Kennedy Hebert – Nicholls – So. – Morgan City, La. – 4.0 – Accounting
Elise Vincent – Northwestern State – Sr. – Maurice, La. – 3.93 – Biology
Kaitlyn St. Clair – Northwestern State – Sr. – Cypress, Texas – 4.0 – Psychology
Megan McDonald – Sam Houston State – Sr. – Georgetown, Texas – 3.80 – Public Administration
Ashley Kriesel – Stephen F. Austin – Sr. – Houston, Texas – 3.28 – Health Science
 
Second Team
Name – School – Class – Hometown – GPA – Major
Kayla Crutchmer – Central Arkansas – Sr. – Tulsa, Okla. – 3.12 – Education
Jordan Johnson – Central Arkansas – So. – Paola, Kan. – 3.86 – Undeclared
Heidi Jaquez – Houston Baptist – Sr. – Wharton, Texas – 3.83 – Wellness Management
Renee Hoffman – UIW – So. – Clinton, Mich. – 3.83 – Biochemistry
Shannon Klaus – Lamar – Sr. – Cedar Creek, Texas – 3.71 – Exercise Science
Mackenzie Savage – Lamar – So. – Alvin, Texas – 4.0 – Biology
Lauren Brown – McNeese – Gr. – Denham Springs, La. – 4.0 – Political Science/Criminal Justice
Cori McCrary – McNeese – Sr. – McCarley, Miss. – 3.38 – General Studies
Allie Amerson – Nicholls – So. – Springfield, La. – 3.92 – Biology Pre-Med/Pre-Denistry
Tiffany Thompson – Sam Houston State – Sr. – Montgomery, Texas – 3.82 – Public Health: Pre-Nursing
Bailey White – Sam Houston State – Sr. – Burleson, Texas – 3.97 – General Business
Marissa Arriaga – Stephen F. Austin – Jr. – Cedar Hill, Texas – 3.75 - Biology
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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HOME RUN CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the softball program are encouraged to join the Home Run Club. Lady Lion softball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Home Run Club and S Club (softball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern softball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events (softball, baseball, football and basketball), effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.