Four Gamecocks Named to Softball Academic All-District Team

AUSTIN, Texas. – University of South Carolina softball players Aniyah Black, Riley Blampied, Brooke Blankenship, and Jen Cummings were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® team Tuesday afternoon (May 28).

The 2024 Academic All-District® Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. Student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Blampied earns her second Academic All-District honor, while Black, Blankenship, and Cummings each earned their first.

Black, a first baseman and designated player, led the Gamecocks with 37 RBIs on the seasons, while hitting .283 in 58 games. She will graduate this summer with a degree in retailing while holding a 3.89 GPA. Black was tied for the team lead with six home runs, including a grand slam in the NCAA Regional to help defeat Utah.

A centerfielder, Blampied was the only South Carolina player to start all 60 games on the season. She graduated this May with a 3.89 GPA and a degree in retailing. She led the team with 13 doubles and 38 runs scored, while also tying for the team lead with six home runs. She was second on the team with a .286 batting average, 33 RBIs and six stolen bases.

The lone junior on the list, Blankenship holds a 3.73 GPA while majoring in sociology. She started 59 games at shortstop for Carolina, hitting .242. For the season she scored 20 runs, drove in 11 runs, and hit four doubles. She helped the Gamecocks turn a program record 33 double plays on the season, fourth most in the NCAA this season.

Cumming graduated this May with a degree in services management while maintaining a 3.78 GPA. She started 56 games, splitting time between catcher and first base. She hit .234 on the season and was third on the team with 22 RBIs. She hit four home runs, four doubles, and two triples. She leaves Carlina sixth all-time in career hit by pitches.

For the latest on South Carolina Softball, visit GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter @GamecockSoftbll, Facebook /GamecockSoftball, and Instagram @GamecockSoftball.