WALTHAM, Mass. – Brandeis University softball first-years Erin Hunt of Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Ragini Kannan of Westford, Massachusetts, have earned All-Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Hunt was a second-team selection in the outfield, while Kannan was a third-team choice at pitcher.
Hunt was honored after a season in which she led the Judges in batting average (.391), hits (50), runs scored (34) and stolen bases (26) while batting leadoff and playing center field in all 38 contests. She was second in on-base percentage (.458) and doubles (10) and third in slugging percentage (.523). Her 50 hits marked just the 23rd time in Brandeis history a player reached the half-century mark in one season, while her 26 stolen bases were the fifth-most in a season in school history. Hunt was third in the University Athletic Association in runs scored and stolen bases and fifth in hits and doubles. Hunt hit safely in 27 of the team's 38 games with 15 multi-hit games and nine contests with more than one run scored.
Kannan posted a 15-5 record in the circle for the Judges. In 23 appearances, she made 16 starts and tossed 14 complete games and four shutouts. She struck out 132 in 128 innings pitched while allowing just 37 earned runs for a 2.02 earned-run average. Kannan finished second in the UAA in wins, strikeouts and complete games and was third in innings pitched and fourth in ERA. Her 15 wins were eighth-most in a single season in school history, while her 132 Ks were third-most and marked just the eighth season in Brandeis history over 100.
Brandeis finished its 2023 regular season with a 25-13 record under third-year head coach Dani Bishop. They finished second in the UAA with a 13-7 record, behind only third-ranked Case Western Reserve University. This marked just the seventh time in program history the team reached the 25-win plateau, and first since 2019.
For more information on Brandeis softball, visit the team's web page at https://www.brandeisjudges.com/sports/sball/index.
For more information on Brandeis Athletics, visit our web page at https://www.brandeisjudges.com/