LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 5, 2021) – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association recognized a record 13 Oklahoma Christian softball players on its Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete list for the 2020-21 academic year, which was announced Tuesday.

To qualify for the honor, softball student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.5 grade-point average for the academic year. More than half of OC's 24 players this past spring did so, as the Eagles posted an impressive team GPA of 3.522, which tied for 53rd among all NCAA Division II programs.

OC shined on the field as well as in the classroom in 2021, posting a 38-9 record, hosting the Lone Star Conference Championship tournament and earning the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional tournament.

OC's previous record for NFCA academic honorees was 10, set in 2014.

Earning the NFCA honor this year were Jaidyn Ahl, a sophomore catcher from Meridian, Idaho; Jillian Bouse, a freshman second baseman from Woodward, Okla.; Daelyn Denny, a junior outfielder from Owasso, Okla. (her second career NFCA academic award); Brie Dunckel, a senior infielder from Valley Center, Calif.; Katelyn Dunckel, a freshman infielder from Valley Center, Calif.; Kylie Janzen, a freshman outfielder from Moore, Okla.; and Lauren King, a sophomore pitcher from Clear Brook, Va.

Also earning the NFCA honor were Abi LaValley, a sophomore infielder from Ada, Okla.; Abbey Parks, a junior catcher from Broken Arrow, Okla.; Brianna Robinson, a junior first baseman from Henderson, Texas; Maddie Southerland, a freshman first baseman-pitcher from Moore, Okla.; Whitney Walde, a freshman catcher from Moore, Okla.; and Bailey Turner, a senior pitcher from Fort Worth, Texas.

More than 8,800 collegiate and high school players made the NFCA academic award list.