LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Auburn University at Montgomery softball utility star Gia Martin has been named to the 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA DII National Player & Pitcher of the year top 50 list, naming her one of the best players in the country.

Martin joins an exclusive list of 50 student athletes across the country that are finalist for national player and pitcher of the year honors. Additionally, Martin is just one of two players from the Gulf South Conference to appear on this list, joining West Florida's Teala Howard.

The sophomore Kentucky native has had an excellent start to her second season as a Warhawk. Martin is currently hitting .345 which ranks third on the team while having also slugged five home runs while driving in a team-high and GSC-leading 39 runs.

The Player of the Year award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding athletic achievements among softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II. In 2019, the Association expanded the award to include a Player and Pitcher of the Year. The list is compiled and the award is voted on by the elected members of the
NFCA Division II All-American Committee with one head coach representing each of the eight NCAA regions. To be eligible, a student-athletes' head coach must be a member.

The Top 25 finalists for the 2022 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Year awards will be announced on May 5. A student-athlete does not have to be on the Top 50 list to be considered for the Top 25. The winner of each award will be announced on June 2, following the conclusion of the 2022 season.

The 11^th-ranked AUM softball team will return to action on Saturday, April 2 to kick off a three-game series against Gulf South Conference foe West Alabama. The first of three games over two days at the AUM Softball Complex is slated to begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

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