BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  – Four University of Arkansas at Monticello softball players have earned spots on the Spring 2009 Gulf South Conference All-Academic Team, while 26 student-athletes were placed on the GSC Honor Roll.
 
Seniors Amy Mardis, Lindsey Randall and Becca Sustaire along with junior Becca Tipton all earned their respective first selections to the All-Academic Team. Tipton is one of four unanimous selections to this year’s squad.
 
Mardis (Burnet, Texas) wraps up her final year of eligibility with a cumulative grade point average of 3.34 and is majoring in health and physical education. On the diamond, she earned 2009 All-GSC First Team honors after finishing the season with a .274 batting average with 29 hits and a .976 fielding percentage.
 
Randall (Keithville, La.) continues her collection of awards and honors with a cumulative GPA of 3.69, majoring in exercise science. Earlier this spring, Randall was named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine District Six All-Academic Team and is the 2009 GSC-West Player of the Year and first team shortstop. On the field, she tied for the team lead with a final .381 batting average in 2009 with a team-high 75 hits and 18 doubles, eight homeruns and 35 RBI.
 
Sustaire (Hallsville, Texas) earns her first award at the conference level, finishing 2009 with a cumulative GPA of 3.49, majoring in Psychology. On the field, she hit .253 with 23 hits, three homeruns and 16 RBI. She also made 11 appearances in the pitcher’s circle, finishing the 2009 campaign with an unblemished 2-0 record and a 4.25 earned run average.
 
Tipton (Dermott, Ark.), along with Randall, was also selected to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine District Six All-Academic Team this spring and wraps up her junior campaign with a cumulative GPA of 3.49, majoring in health and physical education. On the field, she earned All-GSC First Team honors after turning in a .364 final batting average with 64 hits and 36 RBI. The 2007 GSC-West Freshman of the Year was also selected to the to 2009 NFCA All-Region Team.
 
The GSC All-Academic Teams are nominated and voted upon by each institution’s sports information director and faculty athletic representative. To be selected to the all-academic team, a student-athlete must possess a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 and must be a significant contributor to the team. Freshmen and first-semester transfers are not eligible.
 
Also released was the Spring 2009 GSC Honor Roll, given to all letter winners who possess a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. The UAM softball team led all of UAM’s spring programs with 15 selections, followed by eight for baseball and three for men’s golf.
 
Below is the entire list of UAM’s selections to the 2009 GSC Spring Honor Roll.
 
Softball – 15
Katie Bowman (Decatur, Ark.)
Bethany Falcon (Zwolle, La.)
* Heather Greer (Hollandale, Miss.)
Emilie Hobbs (Nacogdoches, Texas)
Kayla Jackson (Hallsville, Texas)
Michelle Knott (Pine Bluff, Ark.)
Amy Mardis (Burnet, Texas)
Savanah Morin (Ponca City, Okla.)
Amanda Nordberg (San Antonio, Texas)
Randa Perry (Collierville, Tenn.)
* Lindsey Randall (Keithville, La.)
* Becca Sustaire (Hallsville, Texas)
* Becca Tipton (Dermott, Ark.)
Meagan Wilson (Longview, Texas)
Haleigh Winnon (Bastrop, La.)
 
* Two-time selection
 
Baseball – 8
Craig Caldwell (West Monroe, La.)
Michael Diffie (El Dorado, Ark.)
Matt Gardner (West Monroe, La.)
Brian Johnson (Roanoke, Va.)
Brandon Miller (El Dorado, Ark.)
James Stancek (San Antonio, Texas)
Brett Stewart (Pine Bluff, Ark.)
Matt Whiting (Monticello, Ark.)
 
Men’s Golf – 3
Jared Dutton (Magnolia, Ark.)
Richard Eberle (Sherwood, Ark.)
Camron Hurst (Poyen, Ark.)