EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton, sophomore infielder Sydney Long, senior outfielder Kennedy Nalley, and senior infielder Whitley Hunter were named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District for NCAA Division I. Stapleton earns her second Academic All-District award as Long, Nalley, and Hunter earn their first.
To be eligible for the CSC Academic All-District Award, the student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials and at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale). They must have reached a sophomore athletic and academic standing at the institution and must have completed at least one full academic year at the institution.
Stapleton, a psychology major, was one of three players to start all 42 games for the Screaming Eagles in 2025. Stapleton was selected to the All-OVC Second Team for the second year in a row. Stapleton batted a team-best .369 (5th in OVC) on a team-leading 48 hits in 130 at-bats and also scored a team-high 20 runs. The USI outfielder walked 13 times toward a .427 on-base percentage (9th in OVC) and stole a team-high eight bases. Stapleton led the team with 14 multi-hit games, including a three-hit game with three runs scored against St. Bonaventure University on March 1. Stapleton batted .400 in USI’s three games at the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. Stapleton is a previous two-time OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll member.
Long was another one of three players to start all 42 games for the Screaming Eagles this season. Long ranked second on the team with a .309 batting average, 17 runs, and 18 RBIs. The mechanical engineering major totaled 38 hits, including six doubles, three triples, and two home runs. Plus, Long helped turn five double plays on defense. Long posted 12 multi-hit games, including a team-best four hits against St. Bonaventure on March 1, and had five games with multiple RBIs, including a four-RBI game against the University of Tennessee at Martin on April 18 after picking up the game-winning walk-off RBI hit the day before. Both of Long’s home runs came against Belmont University on February 21 for her first career multi-home run game and USI’s first in two seasons. Long ended the season with her second consecutive OVC All-Tournament Team selection after hitting .545 with three extra-base hits and three RBIs in USI’s three games at the OVC tournament. Long was an OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll member last year after her freshman campaign.
Nalley started all 39 games she appeared in, patrolling USI’s centerfield. Nalley collected 25 hits and scored 11 runs. Nalley was second on the team with a career-high eight doubles. The marketing major totaled nine RBIs and walked 11 times. The outfielder also had a pair of defensive assists. Nalley posted four multi-hit games and two multi-RBI games. Nalley collected a season-high three RBIs against Tennessee State University on March 14 and notched three hits with two doubles against Southeast Missouri State University on April 26. Nalley is a two-time OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll member for the last two years and was an Academic All-GLVC honoree as a freshman in 2022.
Hunter, a special education major, made 38 starts in 41 games played in 2025. Hunter transitioned into the shortstop role for USI this season and batted .287 at the plate. Hunter registered 27 hits, including six doubles, and totaled 12 RBIs. The senior sported a team-best 22 walks (9th in OVC) and a .435 on-base percentage (7th in OVC). Hunter posted four multi-hit games during the season. The infielder hit her first home run of her USI career and tallied a season-high three RBIs on March 28 against Tennessee Tech University. During the OVC tournament, Hunter notched a hit in all three of USI’s games and drove in a run in two of the tournament contests. Hunter also made seven appearances in the pitching circle in 2025. Hunter was also an OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll member last year.
Southern Indiana ended the season with a 17-25 overall record with a 13-11 mark in OVC play to finish fourth for the second straight season. USI made a third consecutive appearance in the OVC tournament in its third year at the NCAA Division I level.
