Borden and Lee Earn All-Sun Belt Honors

HATTIESBURG, Miss.-Graduate student catcher Hannah Borden and junior designated player Jana Lee earned Sun Belt honors following the 2024 regular season, as announced by the conference Tuesday afternoon. Borden was named First Team All-Sun Belt and Lee was named Second Team All-Sun Belt.

"I am truly happy for Hannah and Jana," head coach Natalie Poole said. "They have had a great season and it is amazing that they get to be honored by the conference. This means that other coaches in the Sun Belt know what impact they have made. Hannah has had a tremendous career and this year has been a special one to end on. Jana has proven to be a strong and steady offensive presence. The confidence they exude and consistency they both bring in performances has been a joy to witness."

Borden and Lee are the first pair of Golden Eagles to earn postseason honors in the Sun Belt in the same season. Borden was the lone selection for the Golden Eagles in the program's inaugural season in the Sun Belt last year as a Second Team All-Sun Belt honoree.

The one-two duo accounted for 100 hits this season, including 24 doubles and 23 home runs for 77 RBI. With Borden behind the plate, Lee also enjoyed career-bests in the circle with a 4.63 ERA through 95 innings pitched.

In her final year at Southern Miss, Borden started all 50 games as the Golden Eagles' catcher, leading the team in nearly every offensive category and setting career milestones. Borden recorded 61 hits, registering the team's 12th 60-hit season in program history, with a .381 batting average (No. 8 Sun Belt) and a conference-best .775 slugging percentage.

Borden sailed into the program's record books with a single-season record and conference-leading 18 home runs, shattering Southern Miss's all-time home run record with 50 career homers.

Her 47 RBI ranked third in the conference and moved her to second in program history with 150 RBI, while her sixth-ranked 27 walks also gave her possession for the second most walks in program history (107 ). Borden drew 18 walks alone in conference play, which ranked second in the Sun Belt. The Trussville, Ala. native was one of seven players to bat above .400 in conference play and led the league with a 1.485 OPS.

Borden enjoyed a stellar start to the season, tallying a career-long 16-game hitting streak, which ranked as the second-longest streak in the nation at the time. Borden recorded 16 multi-hit games in the season, including two games with two home runs, one of two players to do so in the league. Borden completed every pitch of the season behind the plate for Southern Miss, reaching 1,000 career putouts with 136 on the season.

Following Borden at second in the order, Lee recorded 39 hits in 40 games played in 2024, batting at .320 with a .566 slugging percentage. Lee's season total of 15 doubles ranked fourth in the Sun Belt.

Lee also appeared in 26 games in the circle, leading the Southern Miss pitching staff with nine wins and 40 strikeouts in 95 innings pitched, including four complete games and a complete game shutout. Her six wins in conference play ranked the sixth most in the league.

After missing time due to an injury early in the season, Lee returned to the lineup at the start of conference play. The Albany, Ga. native recorded 26 hits in conference play, including a third-ranked eight doubles along with four home runs.

Lee became the first Southern Miss player to earn the Sun Belt's Player of the Week honor in the second week of conference play, producing eight hits with four consecutive multi-hit performances. Lee hit three doubles throughout the week and also launched a three-run home run to help earn the honor.

The honor marked Borden's second consecutive season earning Sun Belt honors, and her first career First Team selection. Lee picked up her first All-Conference honor in the Sun Belt, adding to her career accolades. Lee was tabbed to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team and named to the Third Team NFCA South Region Team in 2022.

Borden and Lee will take on James Madison on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the opening round of the Sun Belt Tournament in San Marcos, Texas.

Below is a full list of the 2024 Sun Belt Postseason Awards:

Pitcher of the Year: Jessica Mullins, Texas State (Sr., P - Tarkington, Texas)
Player of the Year: Mihyia Davis, Louisiana (So., OF – Lovelady, Texas)
Freshman of the Year: Payton List, James Madison (R-Fr., DP – Beaver, Pa.)
Newcomer of the Year: Brooke Ellestad, Louisiana (Jr., SS – Kimberly, Wis.)
Coach of the Year: Gerry Glasco, Louisiana

All-Sun Belt First Team
Georgia Hood, Coastal Carolina (So., 1B – Mount Gambier, Australia)
Brooklyn Ulrich, Marshall (R-So., 2B – Mesa, Ariz.)
Hannah Earls, Texas State (Sr., SS – Willis, Texas)
Brooke Ellestad, Louisiana (Jr., 3B – Kimberly, Wis.)
Sara Vanderford, Texas State (Gr., 3B – Pasadena, Texas)
Mihyia Davis, Louisiana (So., OF – Lovelady, Texas)
Reed Butler, James Madison (Gr., OF – Pomfret, Md.)
Kayt Houston, App State (Sr., OF – Rock Hill, S.C.)
Mackenzie Brasher, South Alabama (Gr., OF – Orange Beach, Ala.)
Bella Henzler, James Madison (So., C – Allison Park, Pa.)
Hannah Borden, Southern Miss (Gr., C – Trussville, Ala.)
Payton List, James Madison (R-Fr., DP – Beaver, Pa.)
Olivia Lackie, South Alabama (Sr., P – Walker, La.)
Jessica Mullins, Texas State (Sr., P - Tarkington, Texas)
Sam Landry, Louisiana (Jr., P – Mont Belvieu, Texas)

All-Sun Belt Second Team
Sam Roe, Louisiana (JR., 1B – Destin, Fla.)
JJ Smith, Texas State (Sr., 1B – Rosenberg, Texas)
Alexa Langeliers, Louisiana (Jr., 2B – Keller, Texas)
Taylor McKinney, Troy (Jr., 2B – Montgomery, Ala.) Audra Thompson, Troy (Sr., SS – Kissimmee, Fla.)
Sydney Bickel, Marshall (Sr., SS – Peoria, Ariz.)
Delaney Keith, Coastal Carolina (So., 3B – Nampa, Idaho)
Lourdes Bacon, ULM (Sr., OF – San Antonio, Texas)
Emma Davis, Georgia Southern (So., OF – Grayson, Ga.)
Bella Gerlach, Marshall (So., OF – Corydon, Ind.)
Peyton Darnell, App State (Gr., C – Fort Mill, S.C.)
Laney Credeur, Louisiana (Jr., DP – Old Mines, Mo.)
Jana Lee, Southern Miss (Jr., DP – Albany, Ga.)
Raelee Brabham, Coastal Carolina (5th Yr., P – Moncks Corner, S.C.)
Chloe Riassetto, Louisiana (So., P - Friendswood, Texas)

For the latest information and updates on Golden Eagle Softball, follow the program on Facebook (facebook.com/SouthernMissSB), Twitter (@SouthernMissSB), and Instagram (@southernmisssb).

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Borden and Lee Earn All-Sun Belt Honors

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