Kelsey Stewart and Lauren Haeger have garnered two major awards in the Southeastern Conference, topping a list that includes six Gators to receive All-SEC selections.
Stewart was named SEC Softball Player of the Year, while Haeger was named SEC Softball Pitcher of the Year.
Junior Kirsti Merritt earned First-Team All-SEC honors along with Stewart and Haeger.
Pitcher Aleshia Ocasio and outfielder and infielder Nicole DeWitt were chosen to the All-SEC Freshman team. Shortstop Kathlyn Medina and Stewart were named to the SEC All-Defensive team.
Stewart is hitting .452 this season, and her .536 average in conference play leads the SEC. This is the Wichita, Kansas, native’s first SEC Softball Player of the Year selection and her second First Team All-SEC selection of her three-year career.
Haeger is off to a 23-0 start this season, and her 1.46 ERA ranks second in the SEC. This is the senior’s first SEC Softball Pitcher of the Year selection and second First Team All-SEC selection of her career.
Merritt’s First Team All-SEC honor is the first of her three-year career. The Lake Panasoffkee, Florida, native’s 30 hit-by-pitches leads the conference, and her .500 on-base percentage ranks among the top 10 in the SEC.
The first SEC All-Defensive selection for Medina comes in her final season. The senior has a .959 fielding percentage and has committed six errors in 145 chances.
After winning the SEC regular-season championship on Sunday, Florida will head to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the SEC Tournament from May 6-9. The Gators play Thursday against the winner of Wednesday’s Texas A&M-South Carolina matchup.
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Kelsey Stewart throws to first base during UF's 2-1 win against UNF on April 1 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
