College roundup: Owen wins Sun Belt Triple Crown, earns all-conference selection
Marshall junior Autumn Owen enjoyed a record-setting softball season for the Thundering Herd.
Owen’s steller 2023 campaign earned her All-Sun Belt Conference First Team honors as well as second-team selection to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Central All-Region squad.
Owen finished as the Sun Belt leader in home runs (19), runs batted in (71) and batting average (.444), earning her the Triple Crown distinction. Owen had 22 multi-hit games in 2023, including seven games with three hits. She also had 22 multi-RBI games with 12 contests of at least three runs batted in and three games with four RBI.
The junior slugged five home runs in a weekend at the Liberty Classic from Feb. 24-26, the most in a single weekend in program history.
Owen is currently ranked second among all Division I players in RBI, seventh in home runs and 11th in batting average. She’s also in the top 10 nationally in on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Marshall finished with a 45-10 record, reaching the Sun Belt tourney championship game.
BASEBALL
Cleveland Community College: Sophomore pitcher Jordan Searcy finished the season with nine appearances, posting a 4.91 earned run average in 11 innings.
Searcy struck out 12 batters in those 11 innings and allowed just a .162 batting average to opposing hitters.
Coker: Sophomore infielder Bryson Edwards had three plate appearances for the Cobras during the 2023 season.
Edwards drew a walk and struck out twice in those at-bats. He was also credited with an assist and a double play as a third baseman.
Gardner-Webb: Junior Nick Capozzi finished with a .270 batting average with a home and five RBI for the Bulldogs.
Capozzi appeared in 26 games, making seven starts. He had 37 official at-bats, matching his 2022 total.
Spartanburg Methodist College: Sophomore outfielder Grayson Jones finished the season with a .250 batting average in 11 games for the Pioneers.
Jones had a homer and two RBI in four plate appearances. Often called on for pinch-running duties, Jones scored eight runs during the season.
Virginia-Wise: Freshman Micah Hill saw action both at the plate and on the mound for the Cavaliers.
As a hitter, Hill finished with a .200 batting average with a double, homer and four RBI. He had 10 plate appearances, starting two games and making nine appearances as a fielder.
On the mound, Hill had five relief appearances, pitching a total of four and 1/3 innings. Hill allowed 12 hits, seven runs and struck out four in those five outings.
TRACK AND FIELD
Belmont-Abbey: Freshman Tori Thompson had a busy spring for the Crusaders, running in several different events while also pole vaulting.
Thompson cleared 8-1/2 feet in finishing fifth at the SWU GottaRun Invite in April. She also placed sixth in the pole vault at the UNCW Seahawk Invitational in March.
As a runner, Thompson competed in the 800-meter run, 1500 meters, 3000 meters, 3000-meter steeplechase and the 4×400-meter relay. She helped the Crusaders win the 4×400 at the UNCW Seahawk Invitational.
Lenoir-Rhyne: Olivia Overholt capped her freshman season with the Bears by taking third place in the 800-meter run at the 2023 South Atlantic Conference Track and Field Championships.
Overholt ran a career-best 2:16.85 in that third-place effort. She also won the 800-meter run at the LR Bears Open in April.
Overholt also was part of Lenoir-Rhyne’s 4×400-meter relay team, which placed sixth overall, and had one appearance in the 400 meters, posting a time of 1:00.35 at the Vertklasse meet in March.
Mars Hill: Freshman Lindsey Jenkins saw limited action in the spring, competing in four meets while running the 800 meters, 1500 meters, 4×400 and 4×800-meter relays for the Lions.
Jenkins had her best effort in the 1500 at the Catamount Classic in April, posting a time of 5:04.17 to place 19th. Her top 800-meter time came at the Trojan Opener in March, where she finished seventh in 2:33.17.