LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Out of 286 programs, Georgia State's softball team recorded the sixth highest GPA (3.595) in NCAA Division I softball last season the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced Friday. Additionally, 15 Panthers earned Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete honors for maintaining a 3.5 or higher.

“I am extremely proud of the academic culture that has been established at Georgia State in the athletics department and with the softball program,” head coach Roger Kincaid said. “I want to thank the entire academic support staff, specifically our academic advisor Bree Hicken, for all their dedicated work in making sure our student-athletes have everything they need to succeed. I also want to congratulate our student-athletes for this accomplishment and appreciate the priority that they put on high academic achievement.”

The NFCA rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across seven membership divisions. NCAA Division I, with 1,240 honorees, had the most student-athletes with a 3.5 grade-point average or higher, while 1,124 in Division III earned recognition, followed by 963 Division II student-athletes. High School weighted and High School unweighted posted 618 and 512 honorees apiece. NAIA amassed 384 recipients and Junior College totaled 311.

Outside of the classroom, Georgia State capped off its 10th straight 30-win season in 2016 with a third-place finish at the Sun Belt Championships. Two of the four all-conference selections from last year return for the 2017 season.

“We are so proud of our softball team for the commitment they have shown not only on the field, but in the classroom as well,” GSU Senior Woman Administrator Kelcey Roegiers said. “They continue to exemplify what it means to be a student-athlete at Georgia State University.”

NCAA Division I: Top-10 Programs

1. Grand Canyon – 3.670

2. Nebraska Omaha – 3.643

3. Saint Louis – 3.641

4. Southern Illinois – 3.627

5. Western Carolina – 3.607

6. Georgia State – 3.595

7. DePaul – 3.591

8. Harvard – 3.590

9. Fairfield – 3.589

10. Missouri State – 3.569

GSU's Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athletes (3.5 or Higher)

Taylor Anderson

Mandy Blackwell

Taylor Bradley

Morgan Brown

Annie Davis

Ivie Drake

Bridgette Flaherty

Remington Hasty

Kristin Hawkins

Arden Jobe

Mallory Koepke

Megan Litumbe

Reagan Morgan

Brenna Skalski