HG
Hannah Gardner
  • Recreation/Leisure Studies
  • Class of 2014
  • Frankfort, IL

Hannah Gardner of Olivet named 2014 NAIA Softball Player of the Year

2014 Jun 27

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2014 Softball All-America teams, selected by the NAIA All-America committee. Senior second baseman Hannah Gardner of Olivet Nazarene University (Illinois) is recognized as the NAIA Player of the Year. Since the Player of the Year award inception in 1998, she earns Olivet's first such honor.

Gardner finished her season ranked first in the NAIA in RBIs per game (1.33), second in total RBIs (73), third in runs scored (74), sixth in total hits (90) and sixth in batting average (.533). On the season, Gardner started in 55 games and tallied 20 doubles, a team-high 12 home runs and only struck out six times in 169 at-bats. The Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Player of the Year hit safely in 47 contests and had a season-long 13-game hitting streak. She was part of a team to win the CCAC regular-season and tournament titles, advance to the NAIA Softball World Series and hold a No. 4 ranking in the final Coaches' Poll.