Cydney Sanders Named Finalist for NFCA National Freshman of the Year

LOUISVILLE, Ky.– After breaking the program record with her 21st home run on Sunday against San Diego State and advancing to the Super Regionals for the first time since 2018, star freshman Cydney Sanders is one of three freshman that have been named as a Finalist for the 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year the Association, announced Thursday afternoon.

"What a honor for both Cyd and our program. I'm both excited and proud of what Cyd represents on and off the field," head coach Trisha Ford said. "They don't come much better than her. She has worked hard for the team I couldn't be more thrilled that she has been recognized as one of the top three freshman in our game."

Sanders was selected as a finalist with along pitchers Jordy Bahl from Oklahoma and Virginia Tech's Emma Lemley to round out the Top Three Freshmen of the Year. 
 
Created in 2014 to help honor the outstanding athletic achievements among freshmen collegiate softball student-athletes around the country, the 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year will be announced on June 1, prior to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma.
 
The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year is atop the Pac-12 rankings in every offensive statistic, where she ranks third in conference in batting average (.424), third in home runs (21), second in RBIs (63), second in runs scored (51) and is dynamic at the plate as she leads the conference in walks with 39. The first baseman leads the team in home runs, slugging, RBIs, walks and is tied with Yanni Acuna in hits with 59. Sanders has been named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week three times this season, along with being named Freshman of the Week twice by D-I Softball to help lead No. 8 Sun Devil softball to the Super Regionals in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Cydney Sanders and the Sun Devils return to Farrington one last time in the biggest series of the season as they'll host No. 9 Northwestern in a best-of-three series in the Super Regionals in the NCAA Tournament with a spot in the Women's College World Series on the line with game one beginning this Friday, May 27 at 5 p.m. MST with first pitch being featured on ESPNU, followed by game two on Saturday, May 28 on ESPN2 at 8 p.m.
 
Fans can keep up with all the news and action of ASU softball this weekend by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter and Facebook and @SunDevilSB on Instagram.