LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Emory & Henry College freshman shortstop Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.) has been selected as one of eight finalists for the NFCA Division II National Freshman of the Year, NFCA officials announced Wednesday. The NFCA is the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Given for the first time in 2015, the award honors the outstanding athletic achievement among freshman softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II.

RELATED - NFCA Release

As the representative of the Southeast Region, Taylor is the de facto "region freshman of the year" although the NFCA does not officially make that designation. Instead, she holds the honor of National Freshman of the Year Finalist.

Taylor was named a NFCA Division II All-Southeast Region Second-Teamer last week.  Additionally, Taylor earned All-Southeast Region Second-Team accolades from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA).

Taylor started all 42 games in which she played, batting a team-leading .417 while also leading the squad with 53 hits and 13 doubles. Her 15 home runs, 113 total bases, 54 RBI and .890 slugging percentage not only led the Wasps but also set new Emory & Henry single-season records.

She hit safely in 37 games, starting the year with a 12-game streak and added a 13-game span between March 19 and April 7. Taylor posted 15 multi-hit contests and drove in multiple runs on 15 different occasions over the course of the season.

The NFCA Division II National Freshman of the Year will be announced on Thursday, May 26, one day after the release of the NFCA Division II All-America Team.

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Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II Freshman of the Year Finalists
Atlantic – Caleigh Rister, California University of Pennsylvania
Central – Leigha Harris, Harding University
East – Jessica Klein, Caldwell University
Midwest – Josie Newman, University of Southern Indiana
South – Ashley Connor, Nova Southeastern University
South Central – Kaiden Boren, Cameron University
Southeast – Lydia Taylor, Emory & Henry College
West – Paige Donnelly, California State University San Marcos