FOREST, Va. --- Two down, two to go. That could be a theme for Virginia Wesleyan University softball and the class of 2020, especially for sophomore Hanna Hull as the Marlins lefty was named the Division III Player of the Year for the second straight season by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
Virginia Wesleyan became the second school in the last five years to repeat as the NCAA Division III softball national champion last week in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Marlins won games one and three in the national championship series against Illinois Wesleyan University to finish the season with a Division III record 55 wins and the program's second piece of walnut and bronze hardware in consecutive campaigns.
Hull registered all five victories VWU victories in OKC to reset her own ODAC record (32) for wins in a season with 40. The 40 wins also tie the NCAA Division III single-season record set by Jennifer Segner from Muskingum College (now university) in 2000. Hull capped her season at 40-2, while Segner registered a 40-3 record. Hull finished with 47 total appearances, which is one off the Division III record of 48 owned by Nan Duga from Springfield College (2001) and Lisa Wymer from Methodist University (1986).
In addition to the conference wins record, the Chesterfield, Va.-native set ODAC single-season standards for innings pitched (267.2) and strikeouts (376), snapping previous records set by former Roanoke College star (and current athletic staff member) Kelly Higbie (261.1) and Hull herself last season (372). Hull finished the season with a 1.02 earned run average and a .139 opponent's batting average as she surrendered only 129 hits. She posted 27 completed games with 12 shutouts.
Hull already ranks atop a trio of conference career tables. She took over #1 in the career victories and strikeouts from former Virginia Wesleyan right-hander Brittaney Brown from 2008-10. Hull's 72 wins eclipse the 69 by Brown, while Hull 748 career punchouts far surpassed the 581 by Brown. Hull also owns the ODAC career shutouts record with 29, taking over the top spot from former Roanoke standout Amy Layman, who had 25 from 1998-2001.
The Marlins southpaw registered 16 games of 10 or more strikeouts including a season-high 17 against Meredith in the season-opener. She registered 11 one-hitters, a no-hitter (with 12 K's) against Ithaca College in her first outing in OKC, and a perfect game (with 14 K's) against Salem College in late February. Hull was especially impressive in the Oklahoma City. In six starts, she went 5-1 with a 0.85 ERA in 41.0 innings in the circle. She gave up five earned runs on 16 hits with eight walks and 55 strikeouts.