BUENA VISTA, Va. – The Southern Virginia softball team concluded their 2024 season with a historic performance, achieving the highest number of conference wins in university history.

Head Coach Tiffane Pendleton reflected on the season, saying, "We had a slow start in February and March with some of our non-conference games. During this time, we worked with several different lineups and defensive options. Every pitcher on our staff threw to non-conference opponents in preparation for our opener against Pfeiffer. We had a much more successful conference record this year and proved to be real competitors."

The Knights had several standout performers who garnered all-conference recognition. The core group of returners set the tone for conference play and worked incredibly well together.

Katie Claytor earned First Team All-Conference Shortstop honors, boasting a slash line of .360/.393/.630 and ranking third in the conference for home runs with six. Claytor led the team in RBIs, OPS, and SLG%.

Coach Pendleton praised her, saying, "Katie was a consistent force for us and received another First Team All-Conference award at shortstop. She flawlessly transitioned to the other side of the infield and took care of big outs for us."

Junior Dykell Jones earned her second All-Conference award, leading the team with a .424 on-base percentage. Jones recorded 47 hits, including nine doubles and three triples, with a notable .388 batting average.

Coach Pendleton noted, "Dykell is a true student of the game and made some clutch defensive plays at second base. She also led the team in batting average and continued to be a big threat on the bases. Her calm confidence and relentless work ethic set her apart as a leader."

The team had a strong outfield with Arianna Hall earning second-team all-conference honors, posting a slash line of .355/.381/.376. Chloe Nelson was foundational to the outfield, her speed and glove unmatched. Nelson directed the defense to secure outs, and together, Hall and Nelson had a combined 112 putouts. Nelson also had a team-high four hits in a 7-6 win over Methodist University.

Key leaders like Sophia Badell brought power to the team, hitting six home runs and slashing .311/.339/.580 with 32 RBIs. Badell and Claytor tied for game-highs in home runs and RBIs with two and five, respectively. Malia Davis made a significant impact pitching, leading the Knights in innings pitched, ERA, and strikeouts with a 2.55 ERA over 90.2 innings, posting a 5-5 record as the Knights' starting pitcher.

Freshmen also made their mark on the season. Emmaline DeGroot made a significant impact in her debut season, showcasing versatility as both a pitcher and a hitter. DeGroot earned second-team all-conference recognition as a Designated Player, boasting a .350 batting average with a .422 on-base percentage, accompanied by 10 walks and seven RBIs.

Coach Pendleton remarked, "DeGroot was a standout freshman this year. She started several rallies at the plate and remained consistent in her approach. She will be missed next season as she will be serving an 18-month mission in Alaska this summer."

Overall, as the team posted a historic season, they bid farewell to seniors Maddie Lloyd and Chloe Persinger and look forward to continued growth from their young core in the upcoming season.