LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Seventeen members of the Missouri Southern softball team were awarded Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2024-25 academic year, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced Thursday.

Abby DeSanto, Bailey Dillon, Hannah Duin, Lauren Fuller, Dink Grimes, Peyton Hawkins, Ashlyn Hulett, Kylee Jacks, Kadence Janney, Emma Mason, Taylor Nuckolls, Emily Perry, Maddie Rolfs, NaTalia Sewell, Kate Thurman, Carsen Tinkler and Easton Walter earned All-America Scholar-Athlete distinction for MSSU.

Individual student athletes need to have a grade point average of 3.50 or higher to be eligible for being a Scholar Athlete.

As a team, Missouri Southern registered a 3.781 GPA in the classroom over the 2025 spring semester with 13 perfect 4.0 GPAs. The team also amassed over 500 hours of community service while posting the Lions' best finish on the field since 1998. Over the 2024-25 school year, MSSU finished with a 3.647 team GPA. 

In total, 9,199 collegiate student-athletes captured Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2024-25 academic year.

The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association's membership categories. NCAA Division III led the way with 2,565 student-athletes earning a 3.5 grade-point average or higher for 2024-25. NCAA Division I followed with 2,544 and NCAA Division II with 2,179. Junior colleges and NAIA came in with 895 and 1,010 student-athletes respectively. Six student-athletes from Penn State Scranton earned recognition in the Other Four-Year category.

Team GPAs and scholar-athletes are submitted by member head coaches.