AMERICUS, Ga. -- The Peach Belt Conference released its 2025 Softball Team of Academic Distinction, presented by Barnes & Noble College, on Friday morning. Seniors Savana Bradford, Henderson Hurdle, Ashlyn Rogers and Graceanne Spears from Georgia Southwestern State University earned the recognition.

Bradford, a graduate student from Colquitt, Ga., is pursuing a Master of Business Administration and holds a 4.00 grade point average. This is her third PBC Team of Academic Distinction award. She was named a PBC Pitcher of the Week during her career and earned all-conference honors in 2023. Bradford ends her playing career ranked second all-time at GSW in wins for a pitcher and third in shutouts. This spring, playing as a two-way player for the first time in her collegiate career, she belted five home runs and drove in 19 runs.   

Hurdle, a nursing major from Macon, Ga., completed her senior season with a 3.52 cumulative grade point average. She's a two-time PBC Presidential Honor Roll scholar. Hurdle played in 124 games during her career at GSW. This spring she was the starting third baseman, hit her first two collegiate home runs and drove in a career-best 18 runs.  

Rogers, an exercise science and health & physical education double major from Madison, Fla., graduated with a 3.53 cumulative grade point average. She put a cap on her storied GSW playing career by being named the PBC Tournament Most Valuable Player after earning all-conference honors following the regular season. Rogers tied the school record with three home runs in the tournament championship game. She ends her career ranked fourth all-time in program history in runs batted in, fifth in home runs and seventh in total bases. 

Spears, a management major from Opp, Ala., graduated with a 3.56 cumulative grade point average. She was named to the Team of Academic Distinction in both of her seasons at GSW. Her accomplishments in the circle as a pitcher for the Lady Hurricanes matches the accolades she earned for her work in the classroom. Spears leaves GSW as the program's all-time leader with a 7.8 strikeouts per game average. She has the program's second-lowest opponent's batting average, ranks second in shutouts and fourth in strikeouts. Her five shutouts this spring is a single-season program record. Last spring she set the single-season mark for strikeouts. 

The Team of Academic Distinction is a part of the PBC's larger initiative to celebrate the academic achievements of PBC student-athletes.

To be eligible for the team, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team's events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution and has reached sophomore athletic eligibility. The Peach Belt Conference sports communications professionals oversee the program.

For the entire 2025 PBC Softball Team of Academic Distinction, click here.