OXFORD, Alabama – The Ohio Valley Conference announced their All-Conference awards for softball, and three Tennessee State Tigers received honors. Freshman catcher Onnika Spencer was named to the Second and All-Newcomer teams. Spencer led TSU in home runs with none, RBI (31), and slugging percentage (.595). The Murfreesboro, Tennessee, walk-on caught every inning this season and only committed four passed balls.
 
Sophomore pitcher Caitlyn Manus who also hails from Murfreesboro was also a second-teamer. Manus posted a 15-13 record this season, going 8-4 against OVC opponents. She proved to be the stopper that the Tigers needed all year. Manus was one of only two pitchers to defeat top-seeded SEMO when she shut them out, scattering three hits. The victory stopped a 14-game losing streak to SEMO.
 
Like Spencer, graduate student shortstop Nahtali Simpson was named to the All-Newcomer Team. Simpson batted .273 on the season and was an intricate part of the Tiger defense that turned 23 double plays, ranking them ninth in the country in double play rate per game.
 
Manus and Simpson both graduated this past weekend. Others that were nominated were Anayah Baker, Laila Armstrong, Holly Ayala, Ryla Traylor, and Mikayla Duke.

The Tigers will take on Lindenwood at 10 a.m. in first-round OVC Tournament action.