Softball USCAA All-American and academic awards announced

PITTSBURGH --- A number of Carlow University softball student-athletes earned national athletic and academic awards this season.

From left: Morgan Nedley, Megan Pollinger, Hannah Gallagher. Photos by Conner Kelly.

June 28, 2023

USCAA Awards | USCAA All-Academic | NAIA Awards

PITTSBURGH --- A number of Carlow University softball student-athletes earned national athletic and academic awards this season.

Senior Morgan Nedley and sophomore Megan Pollinger earned United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) First Team All-American honors, announced at the Small College World Series in May.

Pollinger led the team at the plate this season with a .399 batting average, a.436 slugging percentage with 12 doubles, four triples, four home runs and 18 RBI. She also led the Celtics in the pitching circle with a 4.12 ERA, 35 strikeouts and 18 walks over 68 innings.

Nedley led the Celtics this season and was fifth in the USCAA with five home runs. She was second on the team with a .388 batting average and .419 slugging percentage. She tallied 13 doubles, a triple and led the team with 35 RBI on the year.

Senior Hannah Gallagher earned USCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors. Gallagher led the team with 154 plate appearances as the Celtics' lead-off batter and was third on the team with 47 hits this season. She ended the year with 12 doubles, one home run, 16 RBI and hit .305 with a .376 slugging percentage. Gallagher started all 50 games in left field.

The USCAA also announced academic award winners.

All student-athletes with 24 or more credits on their USCAA transcripts to start the season are eligible for the National All-Academic Team.

Overall (cumulative) grade point averages must be 3.50 (on a 4.00-point system) or greater. Below are the honorees for the Celtics:

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the 2023 Daktronics NAIA Softball Scholar-Athletes in May. Mid-America Christian (Okla.) led the way with 18 honorees. Iowa Wesleyan and Grand View (Iowa) followed closely behind with 15 each.

The 2023 list featured 1,131 student-athletes that achieved at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at their institution. In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended one full year at said institution.

Below are the honorees for the Celtics: