ROCK HILL, SC - Following an impressive regular season that saw them finish second in the SAC, the Lenoir-Rhyne softball team has placed seven on the All-Conference team. Taking home Freshman of the Year honors was Avery Kiger, who has come alive in her first year as a Bear.

Avery Kiger has been on a tear this year, starting in all 48 games for the Bears and batting .396 with 49 RBI's, 34 runs scored, 16 doubles, and 11 home runs. She has an on base percentage of .485 and has struck out just 15 times in 139 at bats. She is the sixth Freshman of the Year in Lenoir-Rhyne softball history, and the first since fellow all-conference honoree Cassidy Wall won it in 2022. In addition to her Freshman of the Year honor, she was also named ot the All-SAC Second Team. 

The lone All-SAC First Team honoree was catcher Lani Warren. The sophomore is making her second consecutive appearance on the first team. This season she is second on the team with a .433 batting average and has totals of 48 RBI's, 41 runs, 12 doubles, and 13 home runs. In addition to her offesive prowess, she has also thrown out five runners from behind the plate. 

Kiger, Katelyn Rackard, Madison Primm, and Cassidy Wall were all named to the All-SAC Second Team. Rackard is making her third consecutive appearance on an All-SAC team, and she ranks second on the team with 46 runs scored on a .385 batting average. Primm is having a season for the ages, leading the team in batting average (.456), home runs (17), hits (68), and slugging percentage (.866). Wall is making her third appearance on an all-conference team. The senior is batting .377 and leads the team with 19 doubles. 

Making the third team for the Bears are third baseman Julia Mardigian and pitcher Faith Carrigan. Mardigian, who is the school record holder in career doubles, is making her fourth consecutive appearance on an all-conference team. She leads the team with 161 at bats and is batting .335 with 30 runs and 13 doubles. Faith Carrigan is making her first appearance on an all-conference team.  She has an ERA of 4.04 and a record of 12-7 with 84 strikeouts and 11 complete games. 

The Bears will look to win back-to-back SAC Tournament titles in the coming weeks, starting with a home series against Emory & Henry this weekend.

FULL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
First Team
C – Lani Warren, Lenoir-Rhyne
1B – Kary Hales, Catawba
2B – Hayden Dye, Carson-Newman
SS – Savanna Brooks, Wingate
3B – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman
OF – Hannah Stevens, Wingate
OF – Kaylee Hobgood, Wingate
OF – Danielle Jason, Tusculum
DP – Hanna Bogoski, Lincoln Memorial
UTL/Non-P – Brianna Gallagher, Catawba
UTL/P – Hali Scott, Wingate
P – Halle Grace Patton, Lincoln Memorial
P – Jillian Thomas, Wingate
 
Second Team
C – Raelynn Kramer, Wingate
1B – Avery Kiger, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B – Brooke Smith, Tusculum
SS – Katelyn Rackard, Lenoir-Rhyne
3B – Madison Primm, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – SieAnna Cameron, Carson-Newman
OF – Cassidy Wall, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Abby Hunter, Tusculum
DP – Samantha Clark, Newberry
UTL/Non-P – Jaden Burns, Wingate
UTL/P – Syerra Rogers, Carson-Newman
P – Lily Robbins, Wingate
P – Katie Morris, Anderson
 
Third Team
C – Sammy Jimenez, Tusculum
1B – Lydia Taylor, Emory & Henry
2B – Julia Mardigian, Lenoir-Rhyne
SS – Ellie Alvarez, Tusculum
3B – Farley Park, Mars Hill
OF – Danielle King, Emory & Henry
OF – Maddy Staples, Newberry
OF – Ariana Fair, Coker
DP – Maddy Altiers, Catawba
UTL/Non-P – Hannah Booth, Emory & Henry
UTL/P – Megan Ackerman, Tusculum
P – Faith Carrigan, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Malorie Reeves, Emory & Henry
 
Freshman of the Year
Avery Kiger, Lenoir-Rhyne

Player of the Year
Brianna Gallagher, Catawba
 
Pitcher of the Year
Halle Grace Patton, Lincoln Memorial

Coach of the Year
Jamie Stanclift, Wingate