NEWPORT NEWS, Va.— Regular season champion Fordham and second-seeded Dayton cleaned up on top Atlantic 10 Conference softball awards. The two teams combined to take home all four of the major awards and seven of the 22 All-Conference honors, which were announced Tuesday ahead of the 2016 A-10 Softball Championship.

Fordham junior Lindsay Mayer was named Atlantic 10 Softball Player of the Year, while her freshman teammate Jessica Hughes was selected as Rookie of the Year. Fordham coach Bridget Orchard was voted A-10 Coach of the Year and Dayton sophomore Manda Cash was named the Pitcher of the Year.

Dayton and Fordham also had two All-Rookie Team nods each and the two schools combined for four All-Academic selections. The major awards, All-Conference and All- Rookie were chosen by a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches. A-10 softball media relations contacts selected the All-Academic team. There were 22 student-athletes on the two All-Conference teams, 12 All-Rookie selections and 13 All-Academic honorees.

Mayer, who plays third base, batted .354 during the regular season and ranked second in the Atlantic 10 in RBI with 41. She was named A-10 Player of the Week once this season, helping lead the Rams to a first-place finish and the top seed for the championship. A native of Lincoln, R.I., Mayer’s average swelled to .426 in conference play, which ranked second in the league. She led the Atlantic 10 in RBI in conference play and also ranked in the top five in hits and doubles. She also was named All-Conference First Team at third base and was selected for the All-Academic Team.

Cash, the 2015 A-10 Rookie of the Year, was dominant from the circle in her sophomore season. Opposing batters hit just .155 off of her this season, which led the conference. The southpaw ranked second in the Atlantic 10 in ERA (1.62), strikeouts (167), strikeouts looking (36) and saves (4). In conference play she led the A-10 in strikeouts (108) and was second in wins (8) and ERA (1.50). A Columbus, Ohio product, Cash was one of two All-Conference First Team pitchers.

A danger to opposing teams on the basepaths, Hughes led the Atlantic 10 with 54 runs scored and 36 walks. She had an on-base percentage of .475, which ranked second in the league and she stole 33 bases, also second in the A-10. She was first in plate appearances with 200 and second in at bats with 160. Hughes also led the way against conference opponents, with 30 runs scored and 21 walks in conference play. She was second in steals in A-10 games with 15. A native of Sewell, N.J., Hughes was also named All-Conference First Team at second base and was selected for the All-Rookie team.

Orchard guided the Rams to their fourth A-10 regular season title. Fordham finished the season 35-18 overall and 18-4 in league play and won 18 of its final 21 games, including a sweep in the final regular season series, to clinch the regular season title. Orchard, who is in her 15 season, has been A-10 Coach of the Year five times previously (2003, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2014).

The 2016 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship begins Wednesday at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Athletic Complex. Every game of the championship will be available at no charge on the A-10 Network and Friday’s semifinals and Saturday’s championship finals will air on the American Sports Network (ASN). Tickets begin at $5 for adults and $4 for seniors and students.

All-Rookie
Kyle Davidson, Dayton
Jessica Gilliam, Dayton
Jessica Hughes, Fordham
Chelsea Skrepenak, Fordham
Marina Vitalich, George Mason
Samantha Zaccari, George Mason
Kaycee Carbone, Massachusetts
Erin Stacevicz, Massachusetts
Kaitlyn Stavinoha, Massachusetts
Becca Rogers, Rhode Island
Amanda Kulp, Saint Joseph’s
Ashley Ventura, Saint Joseph’s

All-Academic
Gabrielle Snyder, Dayton
Sydney Canessa, Fordham
Lindsay Mayer, Fordham
Amy Van Hoven, Fordham
Sarah Solano, George Mason
Megan Linn, George Washington
Kendra Heyer, La Salle
Olivia Hendricks, Rhode Island
Emily McDonough, St. Bonaventure
Kelli Rohan, St. Bonaventure
Katie Sinclair, St. Bonaventure
Elizabeth Everingham, Saint Louis
Mackenzie Peter, Saint Louis