LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Abigail Hynes, Briana Neal, and Tierney Hocqaurd represent #6 Saint Leo University Softball on the 2026 NFCA Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year Watchlist. This Lions trio is part of 118 student-athletes from across the country as players to keep an eye on as the 2026 season progresses. The NFCA announced the list on Wednesday afternoon.

Hynes, Neal, and Hocquard are three of 10 SSC student-athletes on the South Region watchlist. Saint Leo and Eckerd lead the way with three selections each.
 
Hynes is off to an incredible start to her collegiate career posting a whopping .473/.460/.713 slashline through the first 33 games of the season. The freshman from Cape Coral leads the Lions in a plethora of offensive categories including batting average (.473), home runs (6), RBI (38), slugging percentage (.713), sac flies (5). She is top 10 in the SSC in batting average, slugging percentage, ops (1.173), RBI, home runs and leads the SSC in sac flies.
 
Briana Neal's presence at the top of the lineup has been made known as the leadoff hitter, she has batted in the second inning of 15 of the 33 games in 2026. Neal leads the team in runs scored (42), hits (39), doubles (11), walks (23), hit by pitches (4), and stolen bases (17). Neal's 42 runs scored and 23 walks leads the SSC in both categories. Neal opened the season a perfect 16-for-16 in stolen bases.
 
Tierney Hocquard's senior season is off to a stellar start going 12-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 87.1 innings pitched. She leads the team in nearly all pitching categories including wins (12), strikeouts (75), innings pitched, complete games (10), and shutouts (4). She is 10-0 in her last 12 outings and the other two games she earned the save for the Lions.
 
The list is broken down into the eight NCAA Regions (Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West) with up to 15 student-athletes represented in each region. The list is compiled by the elected members of the NFCA Division II All-American Committee with one head coach representing each of the eight NCAA regions. To be eligible, a student-athlete's head coach must be a member.

Voted on by the NFCA's Division II All-American Committee, the 2026 NFCA Player of the Year and NFCA/Portolite Pitcher of the Year will be announced on May 27, a day prior to the start of the NCAA Division II National Championships. All student-athletes are eligible for the end-of-the-season award and do not have to be on this list to be considered.

* 2026 All-Americans

Chloe Baynes OF Sr. Auburn University at Montgomery South Reese Cauley P/1B So. Auburn University at Montgomery South Emma Chisholm IF Jr. Florida Tech South Ella Coiner UT Sr. Eckerd College South Tierney Hocquard P Sr. Saint Leo University South Abigail Hynes UT Fr. Saint Leo University South Taylor Lloyd P Sr. University of Montevallo South Gwen McGinnis* P Sr. University of Tampa South Briana Neal 2B Sr. Saint Leo University South Brandilyn Reymer P Sr. Eckerd College South Taylor Rogers OF Fr. University of Montevallo South Shelby Samples IF/UT Sr. Mississippi College South Hannah Taylor* UT Jr. Eckerd College South Mya   Tucker OF So. Barry University South Gracelyn Wallace P R-Jr. Nova Southeastern University South

  
Hynes, Neal, Hocquard and the sixth-ranked Lions head to Daytona Beach on Thursday to begin an Sunshine State Conference series at Embry-Riddle.