BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - May 16 - Samantha Bridges of Union College has been named to the CoSIDA College Division 2007 Softball Academic All-America District 4 Team, the organization announced recently.

Bridges, a senior member of the Lady Bulldogs and a native of Jackson, Tenn., was voted to the Second Team of the College Division.

CoSIDA (the College Sports Information Directors of America) annually names Academic All-America teams in all sports. CoSIDA was established in 1957, and the Academic All-America program dates back to 1952.

To qualify for the Academic All-America Team, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.20, be a sophomore, junior or senior and player in at least 50 percent of the team's games at the position listed. Each sport is divided into two divisions, University and College. The University Division includes all NCAA Division I schools, while the College Division encompasses all NCAA II, III and NAIA institutions.

CoSIDA is also separated into eight districts. District 4 includes all institutions in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.

Bridges, who played shortstop, had an extraordinary senior season as she set the program record for doubles in a game with three against Berea (Ky.) College on March 13 as well as school mark for doubles in a season with 21. She finished the year with a .324 batting average, 29 runs scored, 35 RBIs and .940 fielding percentage. Bridges helped the Lady Bulldogs to a school-record 38 wins and their second winning season ever in fast-pitch history in going 38-21. Union also captured its first Appalachian Athletic Conference regular-season championship and entered the NAIA Region XII Tournament as the No. 1 seed.

During her two-year career at Union, Bridges posted a .335 average and had 119 hits, 63 runs, 36 doubles and 61 RBIs.

To view all eight of the CoSIDA Academic All-District Teams, click here.