FARMVILLE, Va. — Five members of the Longwood softball team have been named to the 2025 Academic All-District® NCAA Division I Softball Team as selected by the College Sports Communicators, the organization announced Tuesday.

Senior right-handed pitcher Er'ron Burton, junior righties Maggie Chapin and Morgan Strickland and sophomore infielder Naleya Bridges and sophomore catcher Maggie Hiatt all earned the honor.

Burton, who graduated this month with a 3.702 GPA in computer science, was named to the All-Big South Second Team this season. She pitched to a 5-5 record with a 2.49 ERA over 78 2/3 innings in 22 appearances. She struck out 64 against 37 walks. Burton had six complete games and three shutouts, including a 1-0 victory at NC State on April 15.

Chapin, a 3.963 student in biology, was 9-13 overall with a 4.51 ERA in 26 games this season. Chapin pitched six complete games and one shutout in a team-leading 107 innings. Chapin was the Lancers' representative on the Big South All-Academic Team this season.

Strickland, an elementary education and teaching major with a 3.55 GPA, compiled a 4-9 record with a 4.29 over 65 1/3 innings in her first season in Farmville. She appeared in 25 games, starting 13, and finished four of them. She struck out 24 on the year and earned one of the Lancers' three saves.

Bridges, a 3.878 student in kinesiology, batted .205 in 50 games with 48 starts at shortstop this season. She had 24 hits, two doubles 16 RBIs and was tied for third on the team with six home runs. Four of Bridges' homers came in the same week. She was third in Division I softball for the week ending April 28 in long balls.

Hiatt, who carries a 3.887 GPA in kinesiology, hit .228 in 52 games. She tallied four doubles and was second on the team with eight home runs. Hiatt scored nine runs and drove in 27. She had a two-homer game on April 13 at Radford, driving in three runs.

To be eligible for consideration, for CSC Academic All-District, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or higher on a 4.0 scale and be a starter or key contributor to their respective team.
 
The players will now advance to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® ballot. Those honors will be announced at a later date.

Since 1952, the award has recognized the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The Academic All-America® program recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Longwood earned the second seed in the Big South tournament this season, finishing 21-32 overall.