Texas Softball’s Lindsey Stephens Finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas senior outfielder Lindsey Stephens has been selected as one of Top 25 finalists for the prestigious 2016 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year award, according to a Wednesday announcement from the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) & USA Softball.

Now in its 15th year, the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year award, bestowed by the national governing body for softball in the United States, was created to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female collegiate softball players across the country.

Texas remains the only softball program in the nation to have secured the honor more than twice as former Longhorns pitching legend Cat Osterman earned the trophy in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

Stephens has helped power the Texas offense all throughout her senior campaign in the Burnt Orange & White. The Beaumont, Texas, native currently leads UT in every major offensive category: batting average (.407), runs scored (31), hits (48), doubles (15), triples (three), HR's (seven), RBIs (29), total bases (90), slugging percentage (.763), on-base percentage (.478) and stolen bases (11). Her 15 doubles stand just one shy of tying the program single-season record of 16 currently held by former Longhorns standouts Taylor Thom and Nadia Taylor.

Career-wise, Stephens currently ranks fourth in career batting average (.359), second in HR's (39), tied for third in RBIs (149), tied for second in triples (13), tied for ninth in doubles (35), second in slugging percentage (.706), tied for seventh in runs scored (131) and sixth in on-base percentage (.434).

This year's Top 25 is comprised of nine seniors, 11 juniors and five sophomores. The student-athletes selected represent 20 NCAA Division I universities and nine athletic conferences. Alabama, Florida, Florida State, James Madison and Michigan each have two players represented and Auburn, Florida Atlantic, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Marshall, McNeese State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, UCLA and Washington each have one member among the Top 25 Finalists.

Just prior to the start of post-season play, the list will be narrowed to the Top 10 Finalists on May 11. The Top 3 Finalists will be announced May 25, while the winner of the 2016 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be revealed on May 31 prior to the start of the NCAA WCWS in Oklahoma City.