Alexander and Gordon Named to USA Softball Top 50 Watch List

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- For the second time in program history, two James Madison softball players have been named to to the 2020 Top 50 Watch List for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award. Seniors Odicci Alexander and Kate Gordon were announced on the list by USA Softball on Wednesday afternoon.

The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award recognizes a Division I collegiate softball student-athlete for her outstanding athletic achievement. It is awarded by the national governing body for softball in the United States. This award is one of the most prestigious individual honors in NCAA Division I softball.

This year's Watch List includes 28 seniors, 13 juniors and 9 sophomores representing 33 universities and 19 athletic conferences across the country. The Dukes are one of 11 universities with multiple selections on the watch list. There were only six universities with more honorees than JMU on the list. Fellow Colonial Athletic Association member, Drexel, had a representative on the list as well.

Alexander returns for her senior season with the Dukes as a two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American and the 2019 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Year. She is three-time NFCA All-Region team member, two-time ECAC First Team, two-time All-CAA First Team, two-time CAA Player of the Year and named the CAA Rookie of the Year her freshman campaign. She was named USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week during her junior season. The Boydton native earned VaSID All-State First Team honors her sophomore and junior seasons, second team after her first season with the Dukes.

Alexander ranks fourth on the program's career records in strikes and ranks in the top-10 of nine other categories in the circle as well. At the plate, she holds a .341 batting average and a .630 slugging average. Alexander recorded 14 HR and 56 RBI.

Gordon enters her final season as a two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American and the 2019 VaSID Player of the Year. She has been named to the Softball America All-American Team her junior campaign, is a two-time NFCA All-Northeast Region First Team member, two-time All-CAA First Team member, two-time All-ECAC Team and a two-time VaSID First Team member. Gordon was named Fastpitch News Player Preseason All-American and recieved Player of the Week as well.

The Shenandoah native broke the program's single-season record for runs scored, total bases, home runs and slugging percentage during her junior campaign. She recorded a batting average of .420 with a career-high 81 hits.

The 25 finalist will be announced on April 22, followed by the Top 10 finalists on May 6 and Top 3 on May 20. The 2020 USA Softball Player of the Year will be announced on May 26.

James Madison will open the 2020 season at the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational on Feb. 14-16. The Dukes will face Texas Tech on Feb. 14 followed by Kansas and Missouri on Feb. 15. James Madison will close out the Invitational. agaisnt South Carolina on Feb. 16.

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