OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – For the first time since Blaire Luna earn the honor for her accomplishments throughout the 2013 season, a Texas Longhorn softball student-athlete has been recognized among the top 10 finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year as Reese Atwood was named by the organization on Wednesday morning.
Atwood will enter this weekend's NCAA Austin Regional leading the Big 12 Conference in total bases (149), slugging percentage (0.909), sacrifice flies (7), runs batted in per game (1.59), RBIs (86), home runs per game (0.41) and home runs (22). She also ranks in the top five in all Division I softball in home runs (5th, 22), RBIs (1st, 86), runs batted in per game (1st, 1.59) and sacrifice flies (4th, 7).
On top of breaking Texas' single-season home run and RBI records this season, Atwood is just seven RBI back of breaking the Big 12's single-season RBI record (92) set during the 2021 season.
Atwood, who was named the Big 12's Player of the Year seven days ago, is one of three Big 12 student-athletes — Oklahoma's Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma State's Lexi Kilfoyl — to be named to the list, giving the league the most selections. The SEC, ACC and Pac-12 each had two student-athletes, respectively, while the MAC had one honoree.
The 10-player list will be trimmed down to three finalists on Monday, May 20 with the Player of the Year to be announced prior to the NCAA Women's College World Series. Cat Osterman, a three-time winner of the award, is the last Longhorn student-athlete to win the award when the left-handed pitcher was selected during her senior season in 2006. Luna, who was the program's last top 10 finalist, was a three-time top 10 finalist (2010, 2011 and 2013).
UP NEXT
Texas (47-7) will begin its march towards a national championship in Oklahoma City, Okla., with a Friday afternoon matchup against MAAC champion Siena (33-20) to open the 2024 NCAA Austin Regional at 3 p.m. CT.
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