LOUSIVILLE, KY. – Anderson University softball standout, Kayson Boatner was named the 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA DII Player of the Year voted on by the All-American Committee and released this afternoon.

Boatner becomes the first player in program history to garner this prestigious award. The native of Phenix City, Ala., also earned the South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year and Southeast Region Player of the Year for her outstanding play within the year.

Throughout the season, Boatner was named to the Schutt Sports/NFCA DII Top-50 and Top-25 Player of the Year Watchlist and was recognized as the NFCA Player of The Week for her outstanding performances on three occasions.

WEEK ONE - Over a six-game stretch, Boatner hit .650 with 13 hits, eight of which left the yard, 19 RBI, 13 runs scored and a 1.900 slugging percentage. She homered, recorded an RBI and scored in each contest. Boatner clubbed two home runs and drove in five against Frostburg State and capped off the week with two more long balls, including a grand slam and a game-ending three-run homer, seven RBI and three runs scored versus Augusta. The senior first baseman scored at least twice in every game and recorded five multi-hit contests helping the 23^rd-ranked Trojans to a 6-0 showing last week.

WEEK TWO - Over a four-game stretch, Boatner hit .769 with 10 hits, seven of which left the yard, 12 RBI, nine runs scored and a stellar 2.462 slugging percentage. Boatner clubbed five home runs in the doubleheader sweep over Tusculum, including a three-run shot while being intentionally walked. The native of Phenix City, Ala., capped off her incredible week by hitting a walk-off against conference opponent Newberry to help secure head coach Tommy Hewitt's 500 career win.

WEEK THREE - In a pair of doubleheader sweeps, Boatner, who captured her third weekly honor of 2022, hit .667 with a double, triple, home run and five RBI. Against then-No. 15 Lincoln Memorial, she drew five walks, three of which were intentional, in game one of the twin bill. Against Coker, Boatner was 5-for-8 with five RBI and three runs scored. She doubled, homered, and drove in three runs in the opener. The Phenix City, Ala. native added three hits, including her first triple of the season, and two RBI in game two. Boatner finished the week with a .786 on-base percentage and did not strike out in 14 plate appearances.

Boatner finished her stellar senior season batting .445 with 21 doubles, 1 triple and 23 home runs. Boatner's season slugging percentage was a staggering 1.006, which finished second-best in NCAA DII. She topped the NCAA in home runs per game (0.46), tied for the second highest long ball total and ranked tied for seventh in doubles. In the field, the Trojan first baseman recorded 282 putouts and three assists, while committing just one error (.997 field %).

Over the course of the season, Boatner was named SAC Player of the Week – 2 times, NFCA National Player of the Week – 3 times, SAC First-Team, SAC Player of the Year, NFCA All-Region First Team, D2CCA All-Region First Team, D2CCA Region Player of the Year, NFCA Top 50 and Top 25 Player of the Year Watchlist, Anderson University Female Athlete of the Year, NFCA All-America First Team and D2CCA All-America Second Team.

AU All-Time Records

• Season Batting Avg. .445 – 3^rd
• Season Hit Total ; 73 – T- 4^th
• Season Doubles ; 21 – 1^st
• Season Home Runs; 23 – 1^st
• Season Total Bases; 165 – 1^st
• Season Slugging %; 1.006 – 1^st
• Season RBI Total; 66 – 2^nd
• Season Runs Scored; 49 – T-7^th
• Season On Base %; .497 – 5^th
• Career Batting Avg; .391 – T-4^th
• Career Hit Total; 209 – 8^th
• Career Doubles; 42 – 7^th
• Career Home Runs; 61 – 2^nd
• Career Total Bases; 3^rd
• Career Slugging %; 1^st
• Career RBI; 184 – 4^th
• Career Runs Scored; 140 – 8^th
• Career On Base %; .440 – 7^th

Boatner plans to return for the 2022-2023 season to exhaust her eligibility with the Black and Gold.