ATLANTA, Ga. – Softball's Kylie Griffin and Morgan Nelson were named to the Academic All-ASUN Team, the league announced, producing both on and off the field for the Bears this season.
 
"These two are special, they're great examples of what you want in a student-athlete. They work hard no matter what they're doing, and this is a good reflection of that," Head coach Jenny Parsons said. "What these two are able to do in the classroom, and still come out and impact our team the way they do, I'm proud of how they handle their business."
 
Griffin holds a cumulative GPA of 3.95 while pursuing a degree in exercise science. The junior has been stellar in the classroom while being one of the best infielders in the ASUN, helping the Bears clinch the No. 3 seed heading into the ASUN Championship.
 
The Greenbrier native led the Bears in a number of categories this season, both offensively and defensively. She ranked first in hits (55), stolen bases (16) and defensive assists (105), and carried the team early in the season, hitting over .400 for most of the nonconference games.
 
Nelson, finishing her graduate degree in health promotions, ended her college career with a 4.0 in her postgrad work. The Bentonville native is finishing one of the best careers in program history at first base, and will finish her career in the top-five in both fielding percentage and home runs.
 
This season, Nelson leads the Bears with nine home runs, just one away from becoming the second player in program history with three seasons of ten-plus home runs, and her 34 career bombs are two away from tying the program record. She's also been a rock at first base, committing just one error this season on over 300 fielding attempts.
 
The duo adds to a streak of all-academic nods for the Bears; Central Arkansas has had at least one player on each season's list since joining the ASUN, and at least one player on any conference's list since 2015. Griffin is also the second Bear to be named to multiple Academic All-ASUN teams, joining Jenna Wildeman.
 
Central Arkansas looks ahead now to the ASUN Championship, returning as defending champions. The Bears play on Wednesday at 3 p.m., taking on the winner of Jacksonville and Queens.