The Sports Inquirer

Release from Georgia State Athletics:

Ivie Drake was named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year while Callie Alford, Taylor Anderson, Ashley Christy and Lauren Coleman received All-Sun Belt honors, the conference office announced on Tuesday night.

Drake became the first Panther to be named conference freshman of the year since Kaitlyn Medlam in 2011. The three-time Sun Belt Player of the Week had one of the best offensive campaigns in Georgia State history en route to setting single-season records for batting average, slugging percentage, hits, runs scored, RBI and home runs. The catcher leads the conference in batting average, hits, doubles and on-base percentage in addition to ranking second in RBI, slugging percentage and home runs.

Drake was joined on the first team by third baseman Alford, short stop Anderson and centerfielder Christy. As a team, Georgia State had the second most players named to the first team behind only regular-season champions No. 10/11 UL Lafayette. Alford has had a career senior season, setting career highs in batting average, hits, runs scored, RBI and home runs while breaking the GSU career records for homers and RBI. She ranks third in the conference in runs scored and RBI.

Anderson earned first team honors after starting every game at shortstop. She finished the regular season with career highs in batting average, hits, runs scored and stolen bases while being ranked in the top five of the Sun Belt standings in hits and runs scored. In the career record book, the junior ranks fifth in runs scored, sixth in batting average, tied for sixth in walks and tied for seventh in home runs.

Christy earned her third career all-conference honor after being named to the All-CAA second team in 2012 and All-Sun Belt second team a year ago. The centerfielder had an incredible senior season, setting career highs in nearly every offensive category from batting average to home runs, doubles, triples and RBI. In the career record book, she moved into third in steals, seventh in runs scored and tied for eighth in triples.

Coleman was named to the second team, giving Georgia State five total honorees, the third most in the conference. The first baseman established new career highs in RBI, runs scored, home runs and stolen bases in 2015 while also becoming the GSU career walks leader. She also is tied for second in home runs and RBI in the GSU career record book.