Arkansas first baseman Bri Ellis was named USA Softball Player of the Year, beating out Nebraska pitcher Jordy Bahl and last year’s winner, Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady.
Ellis hit .440 for the Razorbacks with 26 home runs and 72 RBI as Arkansas fell in Super Regionals to Mississippi. Bahl was a two-way star for the Huskers, pitching to a 26-8 record with a 1.56 ERA while also hitting .462 with 23 home runs and 66 RBI as Nebraska qualified for Super Regionals for the first time since 2014. Canady, who won the award last year at Stanford, also played both ways for the Red Raiders, pitching to a 30-5 record and an 0.89 ERA while hitting .312 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI. Texas Tech qualified for its first Women’s College World Series.