<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746546377961.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita State Athletics
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WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/ryley-nihart/9325" rel="smarttag" rev="9325">Ryley Nihart</a></dfn>&nbsp;was tabbed American Athletic Conference Co-Freshman of the Year, highlighting the conference awards for Wichita State softball, the league announced Tuesday morning. <dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lauren-lucas/9314" rel="smarttag" rev="9314">Lauren Lucas</a></dfn>&nbsp;was named a First Team All-Conference selection for the third time in her career (2022, 2023, 2025). Wichita State has had at least one first team honoree every season since 2013. A native of Alvin, Texas, Nihart&nbsp;was also named to the All-Conference Second Team and All-Freshman Team. In conference play, Nihart appeared 21 games, making 17 starts in the circle. She had a team-low 3.08 ERA in 97.2 innings. Nihart was 10-4 with 49 strikeouts, and opponents hit just .242 against her. Overall this season, the true freshman is 10-7 with a 2.92 ERA in 124.2 innings. Her eight complete games are also tops on the team. Nihart is the third Shocker to take home American Freshman of the Year honors, joining&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/alex-aguilar/9309" rel="smarttag" rev="9309">Alex Aguilar</a></dfn>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/addison-barnard/7558" rel="smarttag" rev="7558">Addison Barnard</a></dfn>. Lucas returned to form after missing the 2024 season with an injury to lead the Shockers in batting average (.386), hits (61), RBIs (42), total bases (113) and on base percentage (.500). Her 13 home runs and 11 doubles rank second on the team. Lucas' 13 home runs this season also mark a career high. In conference games, Lucas hit .395 with four doubles, nine home runs and 26 RBIs. Her nine home runs tied for third most in conference play. As it stands now, Lucas holds spots on several career record lists at Wichita State: second in batting average, third in on base percentage, fourth in slugging percentage and triples, fifth in RBIs, seventh in doubles, ninth in runs and 10th in walks. Joining Nihart on the All-Freshman Team was teammate&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/brookelyn-livanec/9329" rel="smarttag" rev="9329">Brookelyn Livanec</a></dfn>. Livanec&nbsp;burst into the lineup at the start of conference play and never looked back. She started all but one game in AAC play, hitting .351 with five doubles, a triple, 10 RBIs and 13 runs scored. Overall this season, Livanec has produced a .363 batting average, eight doubles, a triple, 15 RBIs and 19 runs in 42 games as a true freshman. Her .363 average at the plate is second highest on the team. The Shockers open the 2025 American Athletic Conference Championship on Wednesday, May 7 at 3 p.m. CT vs. the winner of UTSA/Tulsa. 2025 American Athletic Conference Softball Regular-Season Awards &nbsp; Player of the Year Jenna Lord, Charlotte &nbsp; Pitcher of the Year Autumn Courtney, Florida Atlantic* &nbsp; Defensive Player of the Year Jesiana Mora, Florida Atlantic &nbsp; Freshmen of the Year Jaylah Jarrell, Charlotte <dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/ryley-nihart/9325" rel="smarttag" rev="9325">Ryley Nihart</a></dfn>, Wichita State &nbsp; Coaching Staff of the Year Florida Atlantic &nbsp; All-Conference First Team P &ndash; Autumn Courtney, Florida Atlantic* P &ndash; Payton Dixon, South Florida P &ndash; Belle Sardja, South Florida C &ndash; Chloe Yeats 1B &ndash; Morgan Johnson, East Carolina 2B &ndash; Cierra Simon, North Texas SS &ndash; Maci Cole, Tulsa 3B &ndash; Jenna Lord, Charlotte OF &ndash; Kylie Hammonds, Florida Atlantic OF &ndash; Kailyn Bearpaw, North Texas OF &ndash;&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lauren-lucas/9314" rel="smarttag" rev="9314">Lauren Lucas</a></dfn>, Wichita State DP/U/Non-P &ndash; Madison Conley, North Texas* &nbsp; All-Conference Second Team P &ndash; Ainsley Lambert, South Florida P &ndash;&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/ryley-nihart/9325" rel="smarttag" rev="9325">Ryley Nihart</a></dfn>, Wichita State C &ndash; Annie Kate Dalton, East Carolina 1B &ndash; Bella Cimino, Florida Atlantic 1B &ndash; Celeste Wood, Tulsa 2B &ndash; Jaylah Jarrell, Charlotte SS &ndash; Kiley Channell, Florida Atlantic 3B &ndash; Jesiana More, Florida Atlantic OF - Emma Jackson, East Carolina OF &ndash; Bella Foran, Florida Atlantic OF &ndash; Olivia Elliott, South Florida DP/U/Non-P &ndash; Kari Shedrick, Charlotte &nbsp; All-Freshman Team P &ndash; Kendall Frost, East Carolina P &ndash;&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/ryley-nihart/9325" rel="smarttag" rev="9325">Ryley Nihart</a></dfn>, Wichita State 1B &ndash; Ausha Moore, North Texas 2B &ndash; Jaylah Jarrell, Charlotte 2B &ndash; Destiny Johns, Florida Atlantic OF &ndash; Bella Foran, Florida Atlantic DP &ndash;&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/brookelyn-livanec/9329" rel="smarttag" rev="9329">Brookelyn Livanec</a></dfn>, Wichita State &nbsp; * denotes unanimous selection</div>

🥎 WSU's Nihart tabbed AAC Co-Freshman of the Year