Kansas City, MO – For the second straight season, the Patriots have earned four NAIA All-American honors, NAIA officials announced on Tuesday afternoon. Carly Oliver and Amber Gainer were named to the first team, Lindsey Shope earned a spot on the second team and Maliyah Wilkins rounded out the Patriots honorees with third team honors.  Four honorees tie the most in program history.
 
Gainer becomes just the second Patriot to become a two-time All-American. The center fielder earned third team honors a year ago and is now recognized as a first-team All-American. Gainer led UC with a .424 batting average and stole 38 bags while only being caught once. She tallied 59 hits, 14 doubles, and four triples while adding a pair of home runs as well.
 
Second baseman Carly Oliver earns the first NAIA All-American honors of her career at Cumberlands as she was named to the first team. Oliver hit .423 on the season and was the team leader in hits (60), doubles (17), and RBI (50). The Georgetown, KY native became the Patriots all-time leader in home runs and doubles this season. She hit eight homers on the year and also led the team in walks with 23. Defensively she is one of the most talented infielders in the country, earning MSC gold-glove honors with 85 put outs and just one error for a .995 fielding percentage.
 
Lindsey Shope was electric for UC in the circle this season, posting a 23-5 overall record for the most wins in a season in program history. Shope appeared in 32 games with 30 starts and finished with a 1.69 ERA. She threw 16 complete games and four shutouts, while striking out 69 batters. The Williamsburg, KY native finished her career with a 1.85 ERA to become UC's record holder as well.
 
Freshman phenom Maliyah Wilkins was named a third-team All-American after a stellar rookie season for the Pats. She led UC with 10 homers on the year and added 15 doubles and 49 runs batted in as well. The DP was named MSC Freshman of the Year and becomes the first Patriots freshman ever to earn All-American honors.
 
Oliver and Gainer join Makenzie Keatts and Jade Gainer as UC's lone NAIA First-Team All-Americans while Shope becomes just the second pitcher to be named an All-American.
 
The Patriots finished 40-9 on the season and won the MSC regular season and tournament titles. They went on to win their third straight NAIA Opening Round and earned the number one seed at the NAIA Softball World Series for the first time ever.
 
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