NEW ORLEANS – The Texas State softball team had three players earn second-team nods the league announced along with the 2019 Sun Belt Conference postseason awards on Tuesday.

Sophomore pitcher Meagan King, junior outfielder Christiana McDowell, and sophomore infielder Tara Oltmann were all named to the 2019 Sun Belt Second Team. All three players earned postseason accolades from the league for the first time in their respective careers.

Texas State holds the No. 4 seed in the upcoming 2019 Sun Belt Conference Championship played at Bobcat Softball Stadium. TXST will play at 5:30 p.m. on May 8 in the first round of double elimination play.

MEAGAN KING
So. | RHP | Mont Belvieu, Texas
All-Sun Belt Second Team
King became the 10th different pitcher in program history named to an all-conference team. She paced the Bobcats in innings pitched (161.2), appearances (35), games started (24), complete games (14), and victories (17) during the regular season. King was crowned Community Coffee Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week on March 26. She compiled a record of 17-11 during her sophomore campaign with 83 strikeouts.

She ended the regular season ranked fourth in wins, fifth in earned run average and opposing batting average, sixth in innings pitched, and 10th in strikeouts among Sun Belt Conference pitchers this season.

CHRISTIANA McDOWELL
Jr. | CF | Round Rock, Texas
All-Sun Belt Second Team
McDowell enjoyed a career season in her third year patrolling the outfield at Bobcat Softball Stadium. She became the 16th outfielder in team history to earn an all-league nod. She finished second in the league in stolen bases (23), eighth among qualified hitters in batting average (.369) and walks drawn (28), and ninth in on-base percentage (.468) and hits (58).  

McDowell led the Bobcat offense in batting average and hits. She is on pace to crack the top-10 in both categories as she currently ranks fifth in average and 11th in hits and is already inside the top-10 (seventh) with 23 stolen bases on the year. On the defensive side, McDowell posted a fielding percentage of .969 with three errors committed in 97 chances in center.

TARA OLTMANN
So. | SS | Giddings, Texas
All-Sun Belt Second Team
Oltmann found success in her new role during her second season in the Maroon and Gold. She became the seventh shortstop in school history to earn postseason accolades. She tied for fourth in RBI (40), ranked fifth in sacrifice hits (12), and tied for seventh in doubles (11) among Sun Belt Conference leaders.  

In the regular season finale, Oltmann became the eighth player, and second youngest player, in program history to secure 40-plus RBI in a single season. She hit .278 (44-for-158) with an on-base percentage of .350 and a slugging figure of .443. Oltmann clubbed five home runs and swiped 15 bags during the season.

2019 ALL-SUN BELT FIRST TEAM
Kenzie Longanecker, Appalachian State (Jr., P, Sanford, Fla.)
Summer Ellyson, Louisiana (Jr., P, Lafayette, La.)
Leanna Johnson, Troy (Fr., P, Brantley, Ala.)
Julie Rawls, Louisiana (Jr., C, Hallsville, Texas)
Katie Webb, Troy (Jr., 1B, Salem, Ala.)
Keeli Milligan, Louisiana (Sr., 2B, Vidor, Texas)
Hannah Farrell, Georgia Southern (Sr., 3B, Jesup, Ga.)
Alissa Dalton, Louisiana (Jr., SS, Cypress, Texas)
Whitney Walton, UTA (Jr., SS, Lake Jackson, Texas)
Sarah Hudek, Louisiana (Jr., OF, Sugar Land, Texas)
Sydney McKay, ULM (Sr., OF, Pearland, Texas)
Victoria Ortiz, South Alabama (Fr., OF, Mobile, Ala.)
Brittani Reid, South Alabama (Jr., OF, Kansas City, Mo.)
Laura Curry, UTA (Sr., OF, Temecula, Calif.)
Lexie Comeaux, Louisiana (Sr., DP, Tomball, Texas)

2019 ALL-SUN BELT SECOND TEAM
Kaitlin Beasley-Polko, Coastal Carolina (So., P, Leonardtown, Md.)
Randi Phillips, UTA (So., P, Jefferson, Texas)
Meagan King, Texas State (So., P, Mont Belvieu, Texas)
Reagan Wright, UTA (Jr., C, Mansfield, Texas)
Kourtney Gremillion, Louisiana (So., 1B, Gonzales, La.)
Aileen Garcia, UTA (Jr., 1B, Houston, Texas)
Taylor Sweigart, Coastal Carolina (So., 2B, Mertztown, Pa.)
Kara Gremillion, Louisiana (Sr., 3B, Gonzales, La.)
Keri White, Appalachian State (Jr., 3B, Hampstead, N.C.)
Tara Oltmann, Texas State (So., SS, Giddings, Texas)
Courtney Dean, Coastal Carolina (So., OF, Indian Trail, N.C.)
Raina O'Neal, Louisiana (So., OF, Richmond, Texas)
Krista Rude, UTA (Sr., OF, Arlington, Texas)
Christiana McDowell, Texas State (Jr., OF, Round Rock, Texas)
Bailey Taylor, Troy (So., DP, Winnsboro, S.C.)

2019 SUN BELT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alissa Dalton, Louisiana (Jr., SS, Cypress, Texas)

2019 SUN BELT PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Summer Ellyson, Louisiana (Jr., P, Lafayette, La.)

2019 SUN BELT FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Leanna Johnson, Troy (Fr., P, Brantley, Ala.)

2019 SUN BELT NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Sarah Hudek, Louisiana (Jr., OF, Sugar Land, Texas)

2019 SUN BELT COACH OF THE YEAR
Gerry Glasco, Louisiana

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