HAMMOND, La. – After helping the Southeastern Louisiana University softball team to the first Southland Conference regular season championship and at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament in program history, Lion pitchers Hallie Burns and Cera Blanchard were named to the NFCA All-Gulf Region Teams released Thursday.
 
Burns, a sophomore from Booneville, Miss., was a second team selection, while Blanchard, a graduate student from Metairie, La., was named to the third team. Burns and Blanchard are the ninth and 10^th players in program history to earn All-Region honors, joining Macie LaRue (2025), Bailey Krolczyk (2023), Ella Manzer (2019), Jaquelyn Ramon (2019), Katie Lacour (2015), Dee Rancher (1999), Misty Wagner (1999) and Voncia Bookman (1992, 1993).
 
Burns and Blanchard are the top two arms for a SLU pitching staff that leads Division I with a single-season school record 22 shutouts and is fourth nationally with a 1.69 team earned run average.
 
Burns was named Southland Pitcher of the Year and earned first team All-Southland Conference honors earlier this month. At 20-4 on the season, she's one win shy of tying the single-season school record for victories. She currently ranks in the Division I top 20 with a 1.73 ERA (16^th), 3.97 hits allowed per seven innings (8^th) and am 0.85 WHIP (7^th) to go with 106 strikeout and two saves.
 
In her return season after playing the 2025 season at UT Tyler, Blanchard is third in Division I with a 1.08 ERA. The second team All-Southland selection is 13-2 with three saves, holding opponents to a .186 batting average.
 
Burns, Blanchard and the Lions will compete in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional. SLU (46-14) opens the postseason with a 2:30 p.m. contest versus Belmont (40-11) Friday on ESPN+.
 
2026 NFCA All-Gulf Region
 
First Team
Pos. | Name | School
P | Jazzy Francik | Florida State
P | Keagan Rothrock | Florida
P | Jayden Heavener | LSU
P | Anne Long | South Florida
C | Anna Hinde | Florida State
1B | Nicole Edmiaston | Stetson
2B | Sierra Humphreys | Central Florida
3B | Jaysoni Beachum | Florida State
SS | Isa Torres | Florida State
OF | Taylor Shumaker | Florida
OF | Jalia Lassiter | LSU
OF | Townsen Thomas | Florida
UT | Ashtyn Danley | Florida State
DP | Jocelyn Erickson | Florida
 
Second Team
Pos. | Name | School
P | Hallie Burns | Southeastern
P | Isabella Vega | Central Florida
C | Beth Damon | Central Florida
1B | Tori Edwards | LSU
2B | Marin Heller | Florida State
3B | Kendall Grover | Florida
SS | Kenleigh Cahalan | Florida
OF | Cassidy McLellan | Florida
OF | Haley Hart | UL Lafayette
OF | Nyjah Fontenot | McNeese
UT | Ella Cunningham | Troy
DP | Kendall Yarnell | Central Florida
 
Third Team
Pos. | Name | School
P | Cera Blanchard | Southeastern
P | Jacy Harrelson | Jacksonville
C | Sarah Beth Brake | Jacksonville
1B | Virginia Mambelli | South Alabama
2B | Sierra Daniel | LSU
3B | Brooke Otto | UL Lafayette
SS | Kylee Edwards | LSU
OF | Izzy Mertes | Central Florida
OF | Ashlyn Shirah | UAB
OF | Bella Foran | FAU
DP | Makaley Boswell | Troy
 
2026 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional | May 15-17 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Rhoads Stadium)
 
Friday, May 15
Game 1 | Alabama vs. USC Upstate | Noon | SEC Network
Game 2 | Southeastern vs. Belmont | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN+
 
Saturday, May 16
Game 3 | Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner | 1 p.m.
Game 4 | Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser | 3:30 p.m. (Elimination Game)
Game 5 | Game 4 Winner vs. Game 3 Loser | 6 p.m. (Elimination Game)
 
Sunday, May 17
Game 6 | Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner | Noon
Game 7 | Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner | 2:30 p.m.
Game 7 is only necessary if Game 5 Winner also wins Game 6
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @LionUpSoftball on X and Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook.
 
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.
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net/tickets. Southeastern offers mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.