LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Saint Leo softball team had five players honored as National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) South All-Region selections. Seniors Tierney Hocquard and Briana Neal along with junior Izzy LaRoche were tabbed to the First Team. Junior Alexis Barber and freshman Abigail Hynes were named to the Second Team.

In the circle, Hocquard put together one of the greatest seasons in program history. The Canada native notched a staggering career-best 1.60 ERA with a 19-1 record. Hocquard recorded seven shutouts and held opposing offenses to a .194 batting average. In her 127.0 innings pitched she tied a career-high 118 strikeouts. Yesterday in the first round of the NCAA South Region 1 matchup against Spring Hill, she surpassed 300 career strikeouts.

Neal posted a career-best .416 batting average and led the Lions with a career-high nine home runs. Her .708 slugging percentage ranked fifth in the SSC while she paced the whole league with a .517 on-base percentage. Additionally, Neal broke the program record for most walks in a season with 101 and surpassed the 200-career hits milestone earlier this year.

LaRoche in her first year dawning the Green & Gold produced the fourth-best and team-leading batting average in the conference with a .419 along with a 1.156 OPS. She tied a career-high seven homers this season in addition to driving in 30 runs and 13 extra-base hits. LaRoche scored 34 runs and tallied 54 total hits while going nine-for-nine on stolen base attempts. After putting together a great season, LaRoche earns her first career all-conference nod.

Hynes, who became the second Lion to be tabbed the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) now garners the first regional recognition of her career. The Florida native ranked 11th in the league with a .392 batting average with a 1.014 OPS. She blasted six home runs and drove in 48 runs (sixth-most in the SSC). Hynes sported a .600 slugging percentage with a .414 on-base percentage. Defensively, she tallied a .986 fielding percentage with 201 putouts and 13 assists.

Barber earns her consecutive All-SSC First Team honor while this is the third time in her career that she collected all-conference status. Additionally, Barber garnered her first All-SSC Defensive Team laurel. At the plate, she registered a .369 batting average with 48 hits and 33 RBI. Barber boasted a .438 slugging percentage and a .417 on-base percentage. Defensively, she flashed the leather all season at shortstop as she recorded a .957 fielding percentage with 50 putouts and 61 assists.