Hailey Lunderman (Choctaw/Lakota) has been named a Top 25 finalist for the NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss Softball shortstop Hailey Lunderman (MBCI/Lakota) has been named a Top 25 finalist for the Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year, the NFCA announced Thursday.

A Philadelphia, Mississippi native, Lunderman is the only Rebel to start in every contest thus far, and leads the club offensively with a .382 batting average. Her 58 total hits rank fourth in the SEC as she’s just nine away from breaking the single-season record for hits in a season.

Lunderman has been the ignition for the Rebel offense, tallying 19 multiple-hit games from primarily the No. 3 spot in the batting order. Earlier in 2016, she carried an 11-game hit streak, which tied for fourth-longest in program history.

She ranks ninth in the SEC in plate appearances (168) and third in at-bats (152). She’s also been a contributing factor in the Rebels’ record-breaking stolen base season with 16 to her credit, also a mark that ranks ninth in the conference.

In the field she’s been just as impressive ranking second in the league in assists (115) and 10th in double plays turned (9). In 182 chances the freshman has committed just seven errors helping Ole Miss to one of the top fielding percentages in the country at .977 with just 31 errors as a team.

Lunderman is one of nine freshmen from the SEC on the Top 25 finalist list. The NFCA will announce the Top 10 finalists on May 12, and release the Top Three on May 25. The National Freshman of the Year will be announced on May 31.

With the Association always searching for innovative ways to promote the sport of softball, the award was created in 2014 from an idea to honor outstanding athletic achievement among freshmen softball student-athletes throughout Division I. In the inaugural year, Auburn’s Kasey Cooper and Tennessee’s Annie Aldrete, were co-winners. Oklahoma’s Paige Parker took home the honor in 2015.

2016 Schutt Sport/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 Finalists