BENTONVILLE, Ark. – A quartet of Southern Arkansas softball players earned All-Great American Conference honors for the 2013 season as it was announced by the conference at the GAC Tournament banquet on Wednesday.
 
Among the four earning conference plaudits for Southern Arkansas were senior Brittany Wood, junior Kelci Garza, and sophomores Hanna Gill and Sarah Higginbotham. Garza and Gill were named to the All-GAC First-Team, while Higginbotham was an All-GAC Second-Team selection and Wood an Honorable Mention selection, respectively.
 
Gill, who was an All-GAC Second-Team selection a year ago, led the GAC in strikeouts (179), innings pitched (227.2), complete games (26) and appearances (42). She is also second in the GAC in wins (18) and games started (28). Her three shutouts, two saves, and .245 opponent batting average against on the season rank Gill in the top-five in the GAC in those categories as well.
 
Garza, a junior transfer from Butler Community College, earns All-GAC First-Team honors as a designated player/utility in her first season as a Lady Mulerider. On the year, Garza led the team or was tied for the lead in homeruns (6), doubles (9), walks (14), on-base percentage (.406), and slugging percentage (.507). She was also second on the team in batting average (.327), hits (49), runs batted in (26), and total bases (76).
 
Higginbotham, a sophomore transfer from UT-Arlington, established herself as one of the top hitting catchers in the GAC as she spent much of the season hitting over .400 and her 62 hits were third-best in the GAC. At the conclusion of the regular season, Higginbotham led the team in batting average (.356), hits (62), RBIs (33), total bases (87), at-bats (174), and sacrifice flies (4). She was also second on the team in runs scored (24), slugging percentage (.500) and on-base percentage (.380).
 
Wood, a four-year starter for the Lady Muleriders, earns All-GAC Honorable Mention at third base. For the season, Wood was third on the team in slugging percentage (.434) and runs batted in (25). She was also tied for third on the team in runs scored (23), doubles (8), and homeruns (5).
 
The Lady Muleriders, who are the No. 5-seed in the upcoming GAC Tournament, will take on the No. 4-seed Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday, April 25 at 4:00 p.m.