A pair of Conference USA softball players were named Academic All-Americans on Thursday as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Sarah Martz of DePaul earned a spot on the first team in the outfield position, while Auriel Jenkins of Southern Miss claimed third-team honors also as an outfielder.

Shannon Nord of Louisville and Charity Butler of Southern Miss were second team Academic All-District selections in District 4 and District 6, respectively. Members of the All-District and All-America teams are selected by a vote of the members of CoSIDA. To be nominated, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher.

Martz, majoring in secondary education-math, boasts a team high 3.805 GPA. This marks her third consecutive year named to an Academic All-America team, having been selected as a sophomore and junior to the third and first teams, respectively.

Martz boasted a team-best 82 hits in 213 at bats (.385). She also led the Blue Demons from the mound with 24 (.600) victories including four consecutive at the C-USA Tournament that helped her team to its third consecutive crown. Martz recorded a 2.18 ERA and struck out 218 batters in 269.1 innings pitched this season.

Jenkins is the first Golden Eagle softball player named to an Academic All-America Team since the program was reinstated in 1999. As the 2004 Conference USA MVP, she helped lead USM to the C-USA regular season championship and a berth to the NCAA Regional Tournament. She led the team in a number of offensive categories including batting average (.373), slugging percentage (.601), on-base percentage (.432), runs scored (41), hits (tied with 57), and total bases (92).

Along with her athletic success, Jenkins has received a number of academic accolades. She currently holds a 3.45 GPA as a coaching and sport administration major and has been selected to the dean's list twice, president's list, Athletic Director's Honor Roll and the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll.

Nord led the Cardinals in runs scored with 38 and was second with a .372 batting average. After transferring to U of L as a sophomore, Nord stands in second on the school's list for career stolen bases with 39 and second with a career batting average of .344. In the classroom, the senior had a 3.68 grade point average going into her final semester while double-majoring in psychology and education.

Butler, a native of Pearl, Miss., is pursuing a degree in coaching and sports administration and currently has a 3.45 GPA. She was fourth on the Golden Eagle squad after posting a .298 batting average. She collected 24 runs over the season, while notching eight doubles and 21 RBI.