Muskingum softball Head Coach Kari Winters and assistant coaches Courtney Moyer, Hannah Murphy, and Steve Cowgill were named the Donna J. Newberry Ohio Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year, senior outfielder Krissy Hughes was named the OAC Gayle Lauth Player of the Year and freshman Haley Hawk was named the OAC Rookie of the Year to highlight Muskingum's six All-OAC honorees.
Coach Winters and her staff led the Muskies to the OAC Regular-Season Championship. The Muskies compiled a conference record of 15-3 and earned hosting rights for the OAC Tournament for the first time since 2008. This marks the second time (2014) in Coach Winters career that she and her staff have been honored with the OAC Staff of the Year Award.
Hughes, senior utility player Rachel Eberling and Hawk all earned First Team All-OAC honors, while sophomore third baseman Jaelyn Meade, sophomore second baseman Karsyn Shaffer, and freshman pitcher Hannah Smith were named Second Team All-OAC.
Hughes captured her third straight All-OAC honors after leading the conference in stolen bases (34), runs scored (56), doubles (24), and total base (108). Hughes also ranked second in the OAC in batting average (.452). She guided the Muskies to an OAC Regular Season Title with 28 RBIs off of 66 hits and blasted four home runs. This season, Hughes broke numerous offensive records for the Muskies including career and season stolen bases, runs scored, and doubles in a season. Hughes was also named the OAC Softball Hitter of the Week (twice) and the NFCA Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week.
Eberling collected her fourth straight All-OAC accolade after she led the Muskies with an 11-4 record on the year, sported a 2.90 ERA, and registered a team-high 50 strikeouts. This season, Eberling batted .339 with 37 RBIs off of 43 hits. She also belted 11 doubles and an OAC-best 11 home runs.
Hawk earned her first All-OAC honor after leading the conference with 42 RBIs off of 56 hits. Hawk was also ranked third in the OAC batting .438, secured 12 doubles, and ranked fourth in the conference with six home runs.
Meade collected her second straight All-OAC honors after ranking second in the conference in home runs (10) and RBIs (40). She tallied a career-best 47 hits, collected six doubles, and registered five triples en route to a .362 batting average.
Shaffer secured her first All-OAC honors after she was third on the team batting .370 with 47 hits, five doubles, and 23 RBIs. She also ranked third in the conference with 14 stolen bases.
Smith notched her first All-OAC honors after she led the team in wins going 13-3 with a 3.54 ERA in 89 innings of work for the Muskies. Earlier this season, Smith registered a shutout in an 8-0 win over Ohio Northern. With this victory, the Muskies clinched the OAC Regular Season Title and secured the top seed and hosting rights to the OAC Softball Tournament. Smith was also named the OAC Softball Pitcher of the Week.
All-OAC accolades and awards are voted on by league coaches.