TXST SOFTBALL
Junior first baseman Aiyana Coleman was named both the Sun Belt Player of the Year and Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year while making First Team All-Conference.
Coleman is the first Bobcat player in program history to be named Sun Belt Player of the Year and is first to win both Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards in a single season. She is also just the third player in Sun Belt Conference history to achieve the feat.
A transfer from Texas A&M, Coleman broke the Bobcats single season record for both home runs and RBIs, hitting 17 homers and 55 RBIs.
Coleman has a chance to break the program record for highest slugging percentage in program history, sitting at .893. Coleman will also be just the third Bobcat in program history to finish the season with a batting average of over .400 joining Sara Vanderford in 2021 and Kristen Zaleski in 2004.
Sophomore pitcher Madison Azua was named First Team All-Conference. Azua won 20 games as the starting pitcher while striking out 186 batters. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
Joining Coleman on the Sun Belt First Team All-Conference selection is the duo of sophomore pitcher Madison Azua and junior catcher Megan Kelnar.
Azua finished the regular season with a 20-7 overall record while striking out 186 batters and recording two saves.
Kelnar finished the regular season with a batting average of .340 with 32 hits and 19 RBIs while being a consistent presence behind the plate.
The trio helped lead the Bobcats to their first Sun Belt regular season title since 2018 and their first outright Sun Belt regular season title in program history.
By clinching the title, Texas State enters the conference tournament as the No. 1 seed.
The Bobcats will be back on the field on Thursday where they take on the winner of James Madison-Troy in the Sun Belt quarterfinals.
First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
Catcher Megan Kelnar was named First Team All-Conference after finishing the regular season with a batting average of .340. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
