Benning Selected to NFCA Third Team All-Southeast Region
5/18/2024 12:00:00 PM | Softball
Fourth Osprey in Program History to Make All-Region Team
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida softball's Allison Benning turned one of the most impressive single-season performances by an Osprey in program history into a utility/pitcher selection on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Third Team All-Southeast Region Team, as announced by the national organization on Saturday afternoon.
This is the fourth time that an Osprey has been selected to a regional team, as Benning joins Navia Penrod (2017), Stacy McClelland (2015) and Kaylie Wallace (2013) as honorees. She is also the only non-Power Five player to be selected to any of the three All-Southeast Region teams.
"In my nine years here at UNF, the stat line Allison [Benning] finished the year with is as impressive as I've seen: .347 BA, 16 HR, 46 RBI and 19 wins in the circle," said head coach Jeff Conrad. "She was brought in to have that type of impact and she delivered in every way. Despite us falling just short of our end goal of reaching an NCAA Regional, Benny was at her best when the lights shined brightest."
Benning finished the season as the D-I single-season program record-holder for home runs (16) and slugging percentage (.707) on the batting side and opponent batting average (.185) on the pitching side. She also set top-five marks for RBIs (46) as a batter, along with K/7 (8.06), wins (19) and total strikeouts (200) as a pitcher.
The junior racked up plenty of awards with first-team utility and second-team pitcher honors from the ASUN Conference, while making the ASUN All-Tournament team after her relentless efforts during the conference championships. She earned D1 Softball National Pitcher of the Week, ASUN Player of the Week, ASUN Pitcher of the Week twice and UNF Female Newcomer of the Year as well.
The Ospreys and Benning finished the season with a 35-19 mark and a runner-up finish in the ASUN Championship tournament. It was only the second 35+ win season for the program since 2014 and the third ASUN Championship title game appearance in five seasons.
This is the fourth time that an Osprey has been selected to a regional team, as Benning joins Navia Penrod (2017), Stacy McClelland (2015) and Kaylie Wallace (2013) as honorees. She is also the only non-Power Five player to be selected to any of the three All-Southeast Region teams.
"In my nine years here at UNF, the stat line Allison [Benning] finished the year with is as impressive as I've seen: .347 BA, 16 HR, 46 RBI and 19 wins in the circle," said head coach Jeff Conrad. "She was brought in to have that type of impact and she delivered in every way. Despite us falling just short of our end goal of reaching an NCAA Regional, Benny was at her best when the lights shined brightest."
Benning finished the season as the D-I single-season program record-holder for home runs (16) and slugging percentage (.707) on the batting side and opponent batting average (.185) on the pitching side. She also set top-five marks for RBIs (46) as a batter, along with K/7 (8.06), wins (19) and total strikeouts (200) as a pitcher.
The junior racked up plenty of awards with first-team utility and second-team pitcher honors from the ASUN Conference, while making the ASUN All-Tournament team after her relentless efforts during the conference championships. She earned D1 Softball National Pitcher of the Week, ASUN Player of the Week, ASUN Pitcher of the Week twice and UNF Female Newcomer of the Year as well.
The Ospreys and Benning finished the season with a 35-19 mark and a runner-up finish in the ASUN Championship tournament. It was only the second 35+ win season for the program since 2014 and the third ASUN Championship title game appearance in five seasons.
Players Mentioned
P/INF
/ SoftballSoftball: Coaches Show at Island Wing Co | Episode 2
Friday, March 20
Softball: Coaches Show at Island Wing Co
Friday, February 27
UNF Softball Complex Aerial Drone
Thursday, July 06
UNF Softball Fall Ball Scrimmage
Thursday, July 06
