D1Softball names two Razorbacks to preseason All-American team

Nia Carter and Bri Ellis made more history for Arkansas softball with selections to D1Softball’s preseason All-American team.

Two Arkansas Razorback softball players were named to D1Softball’s preseason All-American second team on Friday.

Redshirt senior outfielder [autotag]Nia Carter[/autotag] and junior first baseman [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag] each earned the honor. The pair are just the fifth and sixth Hogs ever selected to D1Softball’s preseason All-American teams – all of which have come since 2020.

Carter, a transfer from Iowa, chose to play for the Hogs for her final season of eligibility. Carter’s 2023 was incredible as she started all 62 games and recorded 101 hits, 30 RBIs, 45 runs scored, eight stolen bases and 115 total bases with a .479 batting average. She earned plenty of accolades following the year, including first team All-Big Ten and third team All-American nods.

Ellis enters her first season as a Razorback after two stellar seasons at Auburn. She boasts 117 career starts, 96 RBIs, 87 hits and 34 home runs with a career batting average of .288. Last year, she started all 62 games while recording 42 hits, 47 RBIs and 14 home runs with a .275 batting average.

The Hogs will begin their season on Feb. 8 at 1:00 p.m in Boca Raton, Fla. when they face Marshall as part of the Paradise Classic.