Mia Davidson becomes the first Bulldog in program history to be named a finalist for NFCA National Freshman of the Year.
Davidson Named Top 25 Finalist for NFCA National Freshman of the Year
April 19, 2018 | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Accolades continue to roll in for Mississippi State catcher Mia Davidson as she named one of 25 finalists for the 2018 Schutt Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I National Freshman on the Year, the NFCA announced on Thursday.
Davidson is one of five freshmen from the Southeastern Conference to be named a finalist for the award.
Starting all 45 games this season, Davidson has led Mississippi State to a national ranking and one of the best starts in program history with a 33-12 overall record.
Playing primarily behind the plate, Davidson has displayed her cannon of an arm, totaling three pick offs and throwing out eight would-be base stealers this season.
At the dish, Davidson is just as impressive as she is the lone Bulldog to record 35 or more hits, runs scored and RBIs this season, leading Mississippi State in all three categories. Through the first 45 games of the season, Davidson holds a team-leading .426 average with help of 60 hits, which includes a team-leading 16-game hit streak to open the 2018 season.
Davidson leads the entire SEC with a .865 slugging percentage with help of 13 doubles, two triples and 15 home runs, which ranks tied for third in MSU single-season history. She has also driven in 39 runs for the Bulldogs. The Hillsborough, N.C., native has recorded 11 walks and nine hit by pitches to hold a .491 on-base percentage over her debut season.
The freshman also leads the Bulldogs with 19 multi-hit games and 13 multi-RBI games this season.
Her numbers do not also just top the Bulldog squad, but her impressive debut season puts Davidson as one of the top sluggers in the conference this season. Davidson leads the league in both slugging percentage and total bases (122), she ranks second in home runs, third in hits and fourth in batting average, runs scored and doubles. She has been selected as the SEC Freshman of the Week a school-record three times this season.
The top 10 finalists for the Schutt Sports/NFCA National Freshman of the Year will be announced on Thursday, May 10 with the final three being revealed on Wednesday, May 23. The award will be presented on Tuesday, May 29 before the start of the 2018 Women's College World series.
Davidson and the No. 22 Bulldogs will return to action tomorrow night, kicking off Super Bulldog weekend against No. 5 Florida at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network +.
For more on Mississippi State softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap".
NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25
Hannah Adams, 2B, Florida
Jocelyn Alo, DP/OF, Oklahoma
Patricia Awald, 1B, Kennesaw State
Meghan Beaubien, P, Michigan
Payton Buresch, P, James Madison
Georgina Corrick, P, USF
Sophie Dandola, P, Hofstra
Mia Davidson, C, Mississippi State
Danielle Gibson, 1B, Arizona State
Mary Haff, P, Arkansas
Naomi Hernandez, OF, Long Beach State
Mary Iakopo, C/DP, Oregon
Janae Jefferson, 2B, Texas
Aaliyah Jordan, OF, UCLA
Rachel Lewis, 2B, Northwestern
Kelsey Oh, P, South Carolina
Briana Perez, SS, UCLA
Gabbie Plain, P, Washington
Katie Prebble, 1B, Gardner-Webb
Paige Rauch, 2B/P, Fordham
Alison Seng, 1B/DP, Boise State
Sydney Sherrill, 2B, Florida State
Kaylee Tow, OF, Alabama
Sadie Wise, OF, Saint Louis
Brooke Yanez, P, UC Davis
--HailState.com--
Davidson is one of five freshmen from the Southeastern Conference to be named a finalist for the award.
Starting all 45 games this season, Davidson has led Mississippi State to a national ranking and one of the best starts in program history with a 33-12 overall record.
Playing primarily behind the plate, Davidson has displayed her cannon of an arm, totaling three pick offs and throwing out eight would-be base stealers this season.
At the dish, Davidson is just as impressive as she is the lone Bulldog to record 35 or more hits, runs scored and RBIs this season, leading Mississippi State in all three categories. Through the first 45 games of the season, Davidson holds a team-leading .426 average with help of 60 hits, which includes a team-leading 16-game hit streak to open the 2018 season.
Davidson leads the entire SEC with a .865 slugging percentage with help of 13 doubles, two triples and 15 home runs, which ranks tied for third in MSU single-season history. She has also driven in 39 runs for the Bulldogs. The Hillsborough, N.C., native has recorded 11 walks and nine hit by pitches to hold a .491 on-base percentage over her debut season.
The freshman also leads the Bulldogs with 19 multi-hit games and 13 multi-RBI games this season.
Her numbers do not also just top the Bulldog squad, but her impressive debut season puts Davidson as one of the top sluggers in the conference this season. Davidson leads the league in both slugging percentage and total bases (122), she ranks second in home runs, third in hits and fourth in batting average, runs scored and doubles. She has been selected as the SEC Freshman of the Week a school-record three times this season.
The top 10 finalists for the Schutt Sports/NFCA National Freshman of the Year will be announced on Thursday, May 10 with the final three being revealed on Wednesday, May 23. The award will be presented on Tuesday, May 29 before the start of the 2018 Women's College World series.
Davidson and the No. 22 Bulldogs will return to action tomorrow night, kicking off Super Bulldog weekend against No. 5 Florida at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network +.
For more on Mississippi State softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap".
NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25
Hannah Adams, 2B, Florida
Jocelyn Alo, DP/OF, Oklahoma
Patricia Awald, 1B, Kennesaw State
Meghan Beaubien, P, Michigan
Payton Buresch, P, James Madison
Georgina Corrick, P, USF
Sophie Dandola, P, Hofstra
Mia Davidson, C, Mississippi State
Danielle Gibson, 1B, Arizona State
Mary Haff, P, Arkansas
Naomi Hernandez, OF, Long Beach State
Mary Iakopo, C/DP, Oregon
Janae Jefferson, 2B, Texas
Aaliyah Jordan, OF, UCLA
Rachel Lewis, 2B, Northwestern
Kelsey Oh, P, South Carolina
Briana Perez, SS, UCLA
Gabbie Plain, P, Washington
Katie Prebble, 1B, Gardner-Webb
Paige Rauch, 2B/P, Fordham
Alison Seng, 1B/DP, Boise State
Sydney Sherrill, 2B, Florida State
Kaylee Tow, OF, Alabama
Sadie Wise, OF, Saint Louis
Brooke Yanez, P, UC Davis
--HailState.com--
Players Mentioned
C/INF
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