@MizzouSoftball’s Burnside Named Finalist For NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year
4/20/2017 10:54:00 AM | Softball
Burnside is one of 25 finalists for this year’s award
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Softball shortstop Braxton Burnside (Paragould, Ark.) has been named one of 25 finalists for the 2017 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year, announced Thursday (April 20).
Burnside will be in the running for the prestigious award with the top 10 finalists announced on May 11. The top three finalists will be revealed on May 24, while the final selection for the NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year is announced on May 30.
The first-year Tiger has emerged as one of the Southeastern Conference and NCAA's top freshmen this season. Entering this weekend's (April 21-23) series against No. 20 Kentucky, Burnside is hitting .338 with 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 45 RBI.
Burnside is the lone Mizzou position player to start in all 45 games this season. Amongst all Tigers batters, she ranks top three in average, runs scored, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, total bases, slugging percentage and stolen bases.
Along with Arkansas' Nicole Schroeder, Burnside is only one of two SEC players with 10-plus doubles and 10-plus home runs this year. Additionally, her 11 home runs is tops among all SEC freshmen and ranks T-2nd overall. Nationally, Burnside's 11 trips to #BombCity ranks top 30, while her 45 RBI places top 20.
The Tigers shortstop made national headlines in late March, following a historical week at the plate. Over a seven-game stretch (March 13-19), Burnside hit .545 (12-for-22) with five extra-base hits, three home runs and 18 RBI. Her signature game came against North Dakota State, as she tallied two grand slams and 10 RBI.
Burnside's 10 runs driven in set a new 43-year Mizzou Softball single-game record, while tying the SEC's 21-year single-game mark. She is now only one of three players in SEC history to accomplish the astounding feat.
Keying Burnside's historical day at the plate was her two grand slams in successive innings. Her impressive power display marked the first time an SEC player had hit two grand slams in one game this year. Historically, Burnside became only the 12th player in NCAA Division I history to achieve the improbable triumph.
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