ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Three members of the Drake softball team have earned All-Conference selections, the league announced on Wednesday morning. Emma Dighton garnered First Team and All-Defensive Team selections, while Ava Curry and Sami Miller were placed on the Second Team.
 
Dighton has been a reliable and productive bat in the Bulldogs lineup all season long. The senior ranks second on the team hitting with a clip of .347, and leads the team in hits (52), runs (30), doubles (9), triples (3), home runs (11), RBI (37), and slugging (.667). Her 11 long balls this season are tied for the third most in a single season in program history and she has recorded 11 multi-hit performances this year including a 5-for-5 outing against Kansas City.
 
From a defensive standpoint, the Boone, Iowa, native was stellar at her first base position. Dighton recorded 337 putouts in 360 total chances this season and tallied a fielding percentage of .975, which was the third best mark among qualified players on Drake's roster.
 
Curry, who is a freshman, made an immediate impact in her first season in Des Moines leading to her Second Team selection. Appearing in 47 games with 46 starts, she led the Bulldogs with a batting average of .359. Curry also led the team in walks with 29 and on-base percentage at .476 to go along with seven doubles and 14 RBI.
 
Miller wraps up her career as Bulldog with a Second Team honor from her designated player role. After missing a handful of games earlier in the season, the Mason City, Iowa, native came on strong in the back half. Miller boasts a batting average of .333, which ranks as the third best mark in Drake's lineup, and has racked up nine doubles, five homers, and 18 RBI leading to a slugging percentage of .630.
 
Curry, Dighton, and Miller will now lead Drake into the postseason with the MVC Tournament. The Bulldogs will take to the diamond later today in their first round matchup against Murray State at 10 a.m.
 
The entire All-MVC lists are detailed below.
 
2025 MVC SOFTBALL – POSTSEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year: Kate Lappe, UNI
Pitcher of the Year: Maya Johnson, Belmont
Defensive Player of the Year: Anna Carder, Southern Illinois
Newcomer of the Year: Emily Williams, Southern Illinois
Freshman of the Year: Rylee Spindler, Belmont
Coaching Staff of the Year: Southern Illinois
 
All-MVC First Team
C Anna Carder, Southern Illinois
1B Emma Dighton, Drake
1B Abby Knight, Illinois State
2B Delainey Bryant, Illinois State
2B Skylar Benesh, UNI
3B Kate Lappe, UNI
3B Rylee Spindler, Belmont
SS Kylee Sanders, UNI
SS Jackie Lis, Southern Illinois
OF Emma Austin, Southern Illinois
OF Mikaela Coburn, Southern Illinois
OF Katy Huels, Murray State
P Maya Johnson, Belmont
P McKenzie Newcomb, Southern Illinois
DP/UT Addison McElrath, UNI
DP/UT Emily Williams, Southern Illinois
DP/P McKenzie Vaughn, Missouri State
 
All-MVC Second Team
C Niki Bode, Evansville
C Alexis Perales, Missouri State
1B Addi Baker, Southern Illinois
2B Kenley Minor, Murray State
3B Ashley Breeding, Bradley
SS Nicole Hughes, Belmont
OF Maddy Balsiger, Belmont
OF Ava Curry, Drake
OF Baie Ensio, Belmont
OF Morgan Goodrich, Indiana State
OF Kierston McCoy, Bradley
P Hailey Griffin, Indiana State
P Hannah Meshnick, Illinois State
P Anna Wischnowski, UNI
DP/UT Sami Miller, Drake
DP/P Sydney Kennedy, Bradley
DP/P Azalya Lopez, Valparaiso
 
MVC All-Defensive Team
Brenna Blume, Belmont
Addie Welsh, Bradley
Emma Dighton, Drake
Taylor Howe, Evansville
Sequoia Sanchez, UIC
Julia Larson, Illinois State
Lauren Marsicek, Indiana State
Emily Gerardy, Missouri State
Bailey Broemmer, Murray State
Ella Smithson, UNI
Anna Carder, Southern Illinois
Kim Rodas, Valparaiso