BUFFALO, NY – Buffalo State's
Mya Hurley (Amherst, NY/Amherst),
Madison Lucas (Oakdale, PA/West Allegheny),
Caitlyn Parsons (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas),
Kaitlyn Schnitzer (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster), and
Sydney Shuta (Newburgh, NY/Marlboro) have been recognized for their outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments, earning selection to the 2023-24 Softball Academic All-District Team, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC).
To be eligible for this honor, student-athletes must display combined excellence in their sport and in the classroom, maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or above through at least two full semesters at their institution, while also participating in 90%, or starting 66%, of their team's contests during the season. For softball, pitchers must have made at least 17 appearances or accumulated 25 innings pitched to be eligible.
Hurley, a childhood education and math major, has a 3.93 cumulative GPA through the Fall 2023 semester, along with Dean's List honors in each semester. The sophomore started 36 games for Buffalo State as the centerfielder after converting from the infield in the offseason. Hurley batted .282 for the season, scored 20 runs and drove in 13 more, and led Buffalo State with nine extra-base hits, including eight doubles and one home run.
Lucas has been named to the Dean's List in each semester at Buffalo State, and has earned a 3.81 cumulative GPA. The sophomore biology major tossed 56.2 innings over 16 appearances with 11 starts. She also sported a 5-5 record, and struck out 41 batters for the season. The lefthander also tossed a pair of complete game shutouts, in wins over Clarkson and Potsdam.
Parsons earns her second Academic All-District selection after receiving the honor in 2022-23 as well. The senior environmental geography major was a Second Team NFCA All-Region choice and First Team All-SUNYAC honoree after batting .390 with seven extra-base hits and 14 runs batted in. The first baseman also finished the year as the toughest to strike out in the conference, with 52.5 at bats per strikeout. In the classroom, Parsons has a 3.64 cumulative GPA through the Fall 2023 semester, and selection to the Dean's List in five semesters. Parsons was also named a finalist on the CSC Academic All-America ballot, which will be announced in June.
Schnitzer holds a 3.76 cumulative GPA as a business administration major, with Dean's List recognition in the past three semesters with Buffalo State. The senior third baseman played in 29 games with 27 starts for the Bengals this season. She also added a .310 on-base percentage, three doubles, 10 RBIs, and seven runs scored at the plate. She also provided the go-ahead, three-run double for Buffalo State in a win over Plattsburgh as her top performance of the season.
Shuta also is recognized with Academic All-District honors for the second consecutive season. The speech pathology major had a 3.76 cumulative GPA through the Fall 2023 semester at Buffalo State, and has been named to the Dean's List in four semesters. Serving primarily as the designated player this season, Shuta played 35 games with 32 starts in right field, and added 27 putouts and two outfield assists, while also making the game-saving catch in a win over Old Westbury.
