University of Georgia freshman softball student-athlete Lacey Fincher has been named one of 25 to the Schutt Sports/NFCA Freshman of the Year list, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced Thursday.
Fincher, a native of Tanner Williams, Alabama, is the first Bulldog to appear on the list since Cortni Emanuel was named a top-25 finalist in 2015. She is one of four from the Southeastern Conference, the league with the most finalists on the list.
In her rookie campaign, Fincher is batting .333, has blasted nine home runs, and driven in 29 runs. The freshman has also drawn a team-best 42 walks; her 0.95 walks her game ranks among the best in the country, coming in eighth currently. Fincher’s .520 on-base percentage is the second-highest for a freshman in the country.
In the field, Fincher has started the majority of games at first base while seeing time at shortstop, in the outfield, and even behind the plate.
The top-25 list will be trimmed to 10 on May 9. The top-three finalists will be announced May 21 with the winner announced May 28.
