FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas first baseman Danielle Gibson is one of 10 players up for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, it was announced Wednesday.
Gibson is the lone finalist from an SEC school and one of five position players on the list.
A Murrieta, Calif., native, Gibson ranks sixth nationally in batting average (.451), 15th in hits (65) and holds an on-base percentage of .503. She is also top five among SEC players with 16 home runs and 54 RBI.
This season, Gibson has broken the program’s career RBI and total bases records. She is second with 44 home runs.
Defensively, she has a .985 fielding percentage this season.
In conference play, Gibson is tied for the team lead with eight home runs and second with 25 RBI. Only outfielders KB Sides and Linnie Malkin have a higher batting average against league competition than Gibson (.391).
The top three finalists will be revealed May 18, and the winner will be announced ahead of the Women’s College World Series, which is set for June 2-10 at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City.
Gibson and No. 5 Arkansas play their final regular-season series at Texas A&M beginning Friday. One win would give the Razorbacks their first outright SEC championship.
Arkansas enters the weekend 39-8 overall, 17-4 in the SEC and on an eight-game winning streak. The Razorbacks are 10-2 in true road games this season.