LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released the names of the top-30 finalists for the 2021 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Year awards on Monday, and Columbus State University softball's
Hannah Rose Corbin was honored as one of them.
This is Corbin's third national recognition from the NFCA this season as the third-year sophomore was named the Louisville Slugger NFCA Player of the Week on March 3 and the National Pitcher of the Week on March 31.
At the plate, the Clanton, Ala. native leads the Peach Belt Conference in slugging percentage (1.000), on-base percentage (.669) and walks (67). She is tied for second in home runs (16), tied for third in runs scored (37) and fourth in batting average (.414). Corbin set a new PBC record by drawing 67 walks, while leading the nation in walks and on-base percentage, fourth in slugging percentage and tied for fifth in homers. The sophomore reached base in 40 of CSU's 43 games and averages a homer every 11.6 official at-bats.
Corbin sas 11 multi-RBI games, including driving in four or more runs on three occasions. She posts a 1.669 OPS while hitting .447 in PBC play with six homers and 32 walks.
In the circle, the righty leads the PBC in innings pitched (159.1), strikeouts (204) and wins (20). Corbin is tied for third in saves (2) and tied for fifth in ERA (2.55) and opposing batting average (.214). With these numbers, the sophomore is fourth in the nation in strikeouts, fifth in wins and 11th in appearances. She is the only pitcher in the PBC to have reached 20 victories so far this season, where she had eight games with 10 or more strikeouts, including a 19 strikeout game. Corbin is one of only three players in the nation to punch out at least 19 in a game this season.
Corbin had a streak of 38 straight innings without allowing an earned run during the season. On April 23, she threw a no-hitter against USC Aiken. In PBC play, the sophomore had a 1.91 ERA, while striking out 135 in 102.2 innings pitched.
The prestigious award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding athletic achievements among softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II. In 2019, the Association expanded the award to include a Player and Pitcher of the Year. To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their member head coach and with the cancellation of last year's season due to COVID-19 and a higher percentage of eligible candidates, an additional five players have been added to the traditional top-25.
The top-10 finalists will be announced on May 18 with the 2021 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Year revealed on June 3.
