Gallagher named SAC Softball Player of the Year; three named All-Conference

Rock Hill, S.C. —- Catawba junior Brianna Gallagher was named South Atlantic Conference Softball Player of the Year, while two others earned All-Conference honors, the league office announced Thursday afternoon.

Gallagher, a Graham, N.C. native, is the first player in Catawba Softball program history to earn the league's Player of the Year award. Now a three-time All-Conference selection, Gallagher won the SAC batting title with a .480 average while mashing a single-season program record 16 home runs, good for second in the league.

Gallagher also earned All-SAC First Team at utility/non-pitcher, splitting time nearly right at 50 percent between outfield and shortstop this season. Her .907 slugging percentage and 136 total bases rank first in the league. Gallagher hit a staggering .512 in conference play with 10 doubles and eight homers.

Kary Hales, a senior from Salisbury, earns First Team honors at first base for the second consecutive season. She currently ranks third in the country and tops in the SAC with 20 doubles this season, setting the new program single-season and career record for doubles.

Hales finished sixth in the SAC batting title race with a .452 average with a team-best 49 RBI.

Maddy Altiers was the team's third All-Conference selection, earning a spot on the Third Team at the designated player position.

A newcomer to the Catawba Indians this year via UNC Wilmington, Altiers blasted 11 home runs with a .355 batting average in 41 games played, helping Catawba set the program record for home runs hit by a team this season with 65.