Meenaghan Headlines All-Big South Trio For Gardner-Webb
May 06, 2014 | Softball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- Samantha
Meenaghan (Atlantic Beach, Fla.) was named to the Big South
All-Conference First Team for the fourth time in her career to
headline a group of three Gardner-Webb players to receive an annual
award from the conference on Tuesday, as Megan
Gibbons (Benson, N.C.) and Jill
Blank (Leola, Pa.) earned spots on the All-Freshman and
All-Academic Teams, respectively.
Meenaghan has put together perhaps the best season of her career this spring, entering the Big South Tournament leading the team with a .431 batting average, five doubles, four triples, three home runs and 24 runs batted in. A native of Atlantic Beach, Fla., Meenaghan also leads the team with 27 multi-hit games this season, including 11 three-hit performances.
The former Big South Freshman of the Year is currently the program's all-time leader in batting average, hits, total bases, and runs scored with a .407 clip at the plate in 195 career games. She ranked second in the conference during the regular season in batting average behind Longwood's Megan Baltzell, who was named the Big South Player of the Year.
Gibbons has enjoyed a strong rookie season with the Runnin' Bulldogs, entering the conference tournament tied for the team lead with three home runs while driving in 14. The Benson, N.C. native has started in 46 of Gardner-Webb's 51 games thus far, splitting time between second and third base while posting a .971 fielding percentage.
Blank is in the midst of a strong sophomore campaign at Gardner-Webb, currently ranked fifth on the team with a .255 batting average while driving in five runs. The Leola, Pa. native is also an outstanding student, currently boasting a 3.95 grade point average while majoring in communications. Last season, Blank was named an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete while also earning a spot on the Big South Presidential Honor Roll.
Gardner-Webb opens postseason play on Thursday in Conway, S.C., opening the Big South Tournament as the eighth seed and taking on ninth-seeded Liberty in the opening round at 9:00 am. The winner will advance to face top-seeded and regular season champion Coastal Carolina that afternoon. Every game will air live on the Big South Network.
