HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana University junior first baseman Lexi Johnson, junior pitcher MC Comeaux and senior second baseman Madison Rayner were named to the 2023 Southland Conference Softball All-Academic teams, which were released by the league office Wednesday.
 
Johnson was named to the first team, while Comeaux and Rayner were both second-team choices. Johnson and Rayner were first-time selections, while Comeaux was honored by the SLC for excellence on the field and in the classroom for the second straight season.
 
Johnson, a general studies major with a 3.31 cumulative grade point average, was named to the All-Southland Conference team as a first team selection last month and earned a spot on the Southland All-Tournament Team. The Reserve, Louisiana native led the SLC with five triples, while also ranking among the conference leaders in batting average (.337, 7^th), slugging percentage (.588, 2^nd), OPS (.969, 3^rd), runs (38, 3^rd), hits (63, 3^rd), RBI (45, 2^nd) and home runs (9, 2^nd).
 
Comeaux, who carries a 3.45 GPA as a health sciences major, was named second team All-Academic for the second straight season. The Port Allen, Louisiana native finished 8-4 with a 2.64 earned run average to go with a league-high four saves, ranking among the league leaders in ERA (7^th) and opposing batting average (.238, 6^th).
 
Rayner, who graduated with a degree in general studies in May and registered a 3.47 GPA, was a two-year starter for the Lady Lions after transferring from Southern Miss. The Stringer, Mississippi native and SLC All-Tournament team selection started all 61 games, ranking among the SLC leaders in RBI (34, 8^th), walks (22, 6^th), HBP (6, 4^th) and sacrifice flies (5, 4^th).
 
Senior pitcher Whitney Tate of McNeese was named the Student-Athlete of the Year. The All-Academic teams are voted on by head coaches, sports information directors and academic staff members from each Southland Conference institution. Student-athletes must possess a 3.0 cumulative GPA, have completed one full academic year at the nominating institution and have competed in at least 50 percent of the their team's contests (excluding pitchers) to qualify for SLC All-Academic selection.
 
Southland Conference Softball All-Academic Teams
 
Student-Athlete of the Year: Whitney Tate, McNeese
 
First Team
Name | School | Yr. | Pos. | Hometown | GPA | Major
Lexi Johnson | Southeastern | Jr. | 1B | Reserve, La. | 3.31 | General Studies
Sam Bean | Lamar | Sr. | 3B | Rockwall, Texas | 4.00 | Exercise Science
Makenzie Chaffin | Northwestern State | Sr. | DP | Bossier City, La. | 4.00 | Biology
AB Garcia | HCU | R-Fr. | OF | Cypress, Texas | 3.20 | Accounting
Chloe Gomez | McNeese | Jr. | DP | Spring, Texas | 3.27 | Health & Human Performance
Melise Gossen | Nicholls | Sr. | UT | Rayne, La. | 3.71 | Interdisciplinary Studies
Alexa Poche | Nicholls | Jr. | OF | New Orleans, La. | 3.90 | Psychology
Haylie Savage | HCU | So. | 3B | Angleton, Texas | 3.56 | Kinesiology-Wellness Management
Alayis Seneca | McNeese | Sr. | OF | The Woodlands, Texas | 4.00 | Health & Human Performance/Exercise Physiology & Health Promotion
Whitney Tate | McNeese | Sr. | P | Columbia, La. | 3.90 | Biology Pre-Med
Gabriella Torres | A&M-Corpus Christi | Sr. | C | San Antonio, Texas | 3.69 | Biomedical Sciences
Ashley Vallejo | McNeese | Jr. | P | New Waverly, Texas | 3.47 | Marketing
 
Second Team
Name | School | Yr. | Pos. | Hometown | GPA | Major
MC Comeaux | Southeastern | Jr. | P | Port Allen, La. | 3.45 | Health Sciences
Madison Rayner | Southeastern | Sr. | 2B | Stringer, Miss. | 3.47 | General Studies
Maggie Darr | Northwestern State | So. | P | Missouri City, Texas | 3.76 | Health & Exercise Science
Avery Drake | HCU | Sr. | OF | Belton, Texas | 3.19 | Kinesiology
Keely Dubois | Northwestern State | Sr. | SS | Robeline, La. | 3.55 | Human Health & Performacne
Katy Janes | HCU | Sr. | P | Huffman, Texas | 3.95 | Allied Health
Kaylee Lopez | McNeese | Sr. | UT | Indian Bayou, La. | 3.62 | Early Childhood Education
Ryleigh Mata | UIW | Jr. | 2B | Santa Fe, Texas | 4.00 | Psychology
Bailie Ragsdale | Northwestern State | So. | 2B | Lone Oak, Texas | 3.63 | Health & Exercise Science
Jasie Roberts | HCU | Sr. | C/OF | Pasadena, Texas | 3.97 | Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Shaelyn Sanders | McNeese | Jr. | P | Splendora, Texas | 3.55 | General Behavioral Science
Avery Ziegler | A&M-Commerce | Gr. | 3B | Southlake, Texas | 3.95 | Business Administration
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @LionUpSoftball on Twitter and Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
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.