FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood softball All-American and two-time Big South Player of the Year Megan Baltzell has added yet another accolade, as she was named the 2014-15 Big South Female Student-Athlete of the Year Thursday morning by the conference office.
 
Baltzell becomes the second Lancer to earn the award in a span of three years, as Brooke Short earned the honor following the conclusion of the 2012-13 academic year.
 
"I feel honored and blessed to be named the Big South Female Student-Athlete of the Year," Baltzell stated. "It's another great ending to the storybook career I had at Longwood. I want to thank all my coaches, teammates, friends and family for supporting me throughout my career. I wouldn't have enjoyed the success that I had without their support."
 
The Big South Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015, Baltzell led Longwood to its first Big South regular season title in school history and the second Big South Championship in a span of three seasons.
 
Baltzell ranked second in the country with 27 home runs for the 2015 season, while she also placed second in the nation in slugging percentage (1.088) and on-base percentage (.617). In addition, Baltzell ranked third in the NCAA with 1.12 walks per contest and was among the top-15 in runs per game (1.24) and RBI (72).
 
Baltzell was part of 144 career wins in her time in a Lancer uniform, which ranks second in Longwood history for a senior class.
 
"I am extremely proud of Megan for many things, with this prestigious award being one of them," said head softball coach Kathy Riley. "She is without a doubt one of the finest young ladies that I have been lucky to be associated with as a student athlete. I get so many positive comments from fans, young softball athletes, and coaches who enjoy her on and off the diamond. Megan is one of a select few all-time great athletes who has represented the Big South and Longwood University on a national scale with grace and dignity. She has had a storied career and this award is well deserved in all respects."
 
The first Division I All-American at Longwood, Baltzell leaves Longwood as the holder of 11 school records. On the conference level, Baltzell owns four records, despite being eligible in just her final three seasons that Longwood was a member of the league. She holds the conference mark in home runs (67), RBI (195), runs scored (195) and walks (141).
 
On the national level, Baltzell ends her career ninth in NCAA history in career home runs (76), while ranking among the top-three in the nation in 2013 (30) and 2015 (27). She became the first Longwood student-athlete to be named All-American in the Division I era following the 2013 campaign and being named the NFCA All-Southeast Region Second Team in 2015.
 
"Everyone in the Longwood family is extremely proud of Megan for this achievement," Longwood director of athletics Troy Austin said. "She is incredibly deserving, given the records she set and the two Big South Championships she helped Longwood win. Throughout her four years, Megan has represented Longwood in a positive light in the community and on a national stage. Megan's accomplishments will cement her status among the Lancer all-time greats."
 
Baltzell garnered 98 points and nine first-place votes, as the Big South Female Student Athlete of the Year was voted on by the league's Athletics Directors, Senior Woman Administrators and Sports Information Directors. High Point women's basketball player Stacia Robertson finished second with 77 points in the voting process.
 
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