This is the second time of Skylar Wallace’s career that she has been named a Top 25 finalist for the prestigious award.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Skylar Wallace of the Florida softball program was selected as a 2023 USA Softball Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist by USA Softball Wednesday afternoon. This is Wallace’s second appearance as a Top 25 finalist for the award.
The Woodstock, Ga. native continues to rack up accolades as she was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week for the third time this season along with being named the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Player of the Week and D1Softball.com National Player of the Week after a stellar week at the plate for the Orange & Blue.
Over the course of the season, Wallace has posted a team-leading .465 (46-for-99) batting average at the plate along with 51 runs scored, 43 RBI, 34 walks and 24 stolen bases. The numbers also include a 1.061 slugging percentage, which is due in part to her four doubles, eight triples and 13 home runs.
Wallace ranks inside the top 10 nationally in six different offensive categories as she ranks 10th nationally in batting average, third in on base percentage, third in runs per game (1.34), second in slugging percentage, second in triples and fourth in walks per game (0.89).
The redshirt-junior has only elevated her play in SEC play, the nation’s No. 1-rated RPI conference, as she is hitting .512 (21-for-41) with a double, three triples and six home runs that go along with 20 runs scored, 16 RBI, 15 walks and 12 stolen bases.
In conference only play, Wallace leads the SEC in batting average, slugging percentage (1.122), runs scored, triples and stolen bases, while also ranking second in on base percentage (.649), hits, total bases (46) and walks.
She’s also the only player in the SEC to rank inside the top five in all of the following categories: hits, slugging percentage, on base percentage, runs scored, hits, RBI, triples, home runs, total bases, walks and stolen base.
Lauren Haeger & Kelly Barnhill are the only Gators to have won the prestigious award. Haeger earned the title in 2015 after leading Florida to the program’s second national championship and Barnhill secured the honor after having a historic season in 2017.
The Top 25 Finalists will be narrowed down to 10 athletes on May 3, followed by the Top 3 Finalists set to be released on May 17. The 2023 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed prior to the Women’s College World Series, which is scheduled to take place June 1-9 at the Softball Capital of the World(r).
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