NFCA RELEASE

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Kutztown University softball's Brianna Hughes (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) was recently selected as a finalist for the 2021 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Freshman of the Year award by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's All-America Committee.

Hughes is the Atlantic Region's representative and is joined by Augustana's Torri Chute (Central), Georgian Court's Alyssa Herrera (East), UIndy's Kenzee Smith (Midwest), Rollins' Ali Shenefield (South), MSU Denver's Shelby Robb (South Central), Columbus State's Caitlyn Canady (Southeast) and Northwest Nazarene's Sidney Booth in the running for the award, which will be announced on May 26.

A Hatboro, Pa., native, Hughes batted .333 (54-for-162) while starting all 48 games during her first season with the Golden Bears. Offensively, the center fielder paced the team in runs scored (47), total bases (105) and stolen bases (10), while sharing the team lead with three triples. She also ranked second in on base+slugging (1.041), second in home runs (11), second in slugging percentage (.648), third in runs batted in (39), third in doubles (12) and tied for third in hits (54). Defensively, she converted 65-of-66 chances with 62 putouts and three assists for a .985 fielding percentage.

Hughes ranked among the top 80 in NCAA Division II in home runs (48th), hits (61st), runs per game (76th, 0.98), doubles (77th) and RBIs (77th). She was voted to the All-PSAC East First Team and named PSAC East Rookie of the Year by the league's coaches.

Created in 2015, the NFCA National Freshman of the Year award honors the outstanding athletic achievement among freshman softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II. To be eligible, student-athletes must come from a NFCA member institution. With the premature cancellation of last year's season due to COVID-19, both 2020 and 2021 freshmen were eligible for this year's award.