Troy University Athletics
Troy Duo Earns All-Sun Belt Honors
5/7/2024 2:00:00 PM | Softball
TROY, Ala-Â Audra Thompson and Taylor McKinney were tabbed to the All-Sun Belt Second Team, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon.Â
"We are certainly very proud of our All-Sun Belt recipients as they are more than deserving of this recognition," head coach Eric Newell said. "Taylor and Audra had great years and we are proud they represent our program in this conference. We feel we had several worthy of recognition, and we celebrate these two leaders of our program."
Taylor McKinney earned her second consecutive nod from the league after being named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.Â
The Montgomery, Ala., native leads the Trojans in conference play batting at a .354 clip and with a 1.091 OPS. On the season, McKinney is batting .336 with seven doubles, a pair of triples and six home runs. The speedster is also 10-for-11 in stolen base attempts.Â
McKinney shinned in big moments for the Trojans after knocking in walk-off home runs against Southern Miss and South Alabama. In conference action, McKinney has blasted three home runs and recorded 17 hits, two doubles and a triple.
Audra Thompson picked up her first All-Sun Belt Team selection of her career.
The Kissimmee, Fla., native has been a cornerstone of the Troy defense, holding down the shortstop position this season. As a defensive leader, Thompson ranks second in the club with 99 putouts and 78 assists. On the offensive side, the senior has tallied 13 extra-base hits – six doubles and seven home runs. She has already set career highs in runs, hits, doubles, home runs and RBIs.Â
Thompson came up clutch with an RBI double to tie game three against Texas State before hitting the go-ahead home run to win.
Troy heads to San Marcos as the No. 5 seed, where it will take on the No. 4 seeded Coastal Carolina on Thursday at 1 p.m. for the Sun Belt Conference tournament.
2024 Sun Belt Conference Softball Postseason Awards
Pitcher of the Year: Jessica Mullins, Texas State (Sr., P - Tarkington, Texas)
Player of the Year: Mihyia Davis, Louisiana (So., OF – Lovelady, Texas)
Freshman of the Year: Payton List, James Madison (R-Fr., DP – Beaver, Pa.)
Newcomer of the Year: Brooke Ellestad, Louisiana (Jr., SS – Kimberly, Wis.)
Coach of the Year: Gerry Glasco, Louisiana
All-Sun Belt First Team
Georgia Hood, Coastal Carolina (So., 1B – Mount Gambier, Australia)
Brooklyn Ulrich, Marshall (R-So., 2B – Mesa, Ariz.)
Hannah Earls, Texas State (Sr., SS – Willis, Texas)
Brooke Ellestad, Louisiana (Jr., SS – Kimberly, Wis.)
Sara Vanderford, Texas State (Gr., 3B – Pasadena, Texas)
Mihyia Davis, Louisiana (So., OF – Lovelady, Texas)
Reed Butler, James Madison (Gr., OF – Pomfret, Md.)
Kayt Houston, App State (Sr., OF – Rock Hill, S.C.)
Mackenzie Brasher, South Alabama (Gr., OF – Orange Beach, Ala.)
Bella Henzler, James Madison (So., C – Allison Park, Pa.)
Hannah Borden, Southern Miss (Gr., C – Trussville, Ala.)
Payton List, James Madison (R-Fr., DP – Beaver, Pa.)
Olivia Lackie, South Alabama (Sr., P – Walker, La.)
Jessica Mullins, Texas State (Sr., P - Tarkington, Texas)
Sam Landry, Louisiana (Jr., P – Mont Belvieu, Texas)
All-Sun Belt Second Team
Sam Roe, Louisiana (JR., 1B – Destin, Fla.)
JJ Smith, Texas State (Sr., 1B – Rosenberg, Texas)
Alexa Langeliers, Louisiana (Jr., 2B – Keller, Texas)
Taylor McKinney, Troy (Jr., 2B – Montgomery, Ala.) Audra Thompson, Troy (Sr., SS – Kissimmee, Fla.)
Sydney Bickel, Marshall (Sr., SS – Peoria, Ariz.)
Delaney Keith, Coastal Carolina (So., 3B – Nampa, Idaho)
Lourdes Bacon, ULM (Sr., OF – San Antonio, Texas)
Emma Davis, Georgia Southern (So., OF – Grayson, Ga.)
Bella Gerlach, Marshall (So., OF – Corydon, Ind.)
Peyton Darnell, App State (Gr., C – Fort Mill, S.C.)
Laney Credeur, Louisiana (Jr., DP – Old Mines, Mo.)
Jana Lee, Southern Miss (Jr., DP – Albany, Ga.)
Raelee Brabham, Coastal Carolina (5th Yr., P – Moncks Corner, S.C.)
Chloe Riassetto, Louisiana (So., P - Friendswood, Texas)
