University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball coach Frank Reed was named Southern Conference coach of the year on voting by the league’s coaches, and UTC had five players earn all-conference awards.
Reed won the coach of the year award for the third consecutive year after leading the Lady Mocs to a 39-15 overall record this season with a 19-5 conference record.
UTC infielders Tiffany Baker and Tia Blosser, along with junior outfielder Lyndsey Stiles, were selected to the all-SoCon first team, and junior pitcher Kandice Irwin was a second-team selection.
UTC freshman first baseman Kasey Tydingco was named to the Southern Conference all-freshman team.
Georgia Southern swept the top player honors, with senior shortstop Nina Iduate being named player of the year and senior pitcher Brianna Streetmon earning her second consecutive SoCon pitcher of the year award.
The Lady Mocs will open play in the four-team Southern Conference tournament on Thursday along with Georgia Southern, Elon and UNC Greensboro. As regular season champion, UTC will host the tournament at Jim Frost Stadium and open against UNC Greensboro on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.