2023-24 Academic All-America Release
 
AUSTIN, Texas – East Texas Baptist junior outfielder Mary Frances Ellis and junior right-handed pitcher Hannah Benavides were selected to the 2023-24 Academic All-America® Softball Teams, announced by College Sports Communicators on Tuesday.
 
Frances Ellis was named as an outfielder on the First Team and notched her second All-American from CSC. She was a Third Team All-American in 2023. Benavides claimed Second Team All-American as a pitcher.
 
Frances Ellis boasts a 4.00 GPA – part of a group of nine in undergraduate for NCAA Division III with a perfect mark – and is majoring in Finance & Accounting. She is a three-time All-ASC recipient including being named All-ASC First Team in 2024. She batted .409 with 47 hits, was second on the team with 36 stolen bases, and added 39 runs for the Tigers.
 
Benavides has a 3.81 GPA and is majoring in Rehabilitative Science. She broke into the ASC with an impressive spring, earning ASC Pitcher of the Year and ASC Newcomer of the Year accolades. Benavides was also a NFCA All-American this season. Benavides notched a 16-0 record with a 1.41 ERA through 89.2 innings.
 
Both members of Tigers softball were part of a historic season that resulted in the 2024 NCAA Division III Championship. ETBU finished 48-3 and earned its second national championship all-time.