Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Burgess, Cushing listed on All-C-USA Preseason Team
2/4/2021 11:05:00 AM | Softball, BRAA
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee landed a pair of Blue Raiders on the 2021 All-Conference USA Preseason Team, as Summer Burgess and Lexi Cushing check in as two of the league's top infielders, C-USA announced Thursday.
Burgess and Cushing are both back as graduate students this spring after the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly ended their senior season last year. Both Blue Raiders are already considered among the best in program history, and they could further cement that legacy with a stellar fifth season in Murfreesboro.
"Summer and Lexi have been instrumental in our success over the last several years," MT Head Coach Jeff Breeden said. "They'll be called upon to lead us on and off the field once again and to show our younger players how to perform at a high level."
Burgess, a shortstop from Delray Beach, Florida, is already in the top 10 in 10 Blue Raider career stat categories and is on pace to enter four more this spring. The leadoff hitter has started all 197 games of her collegiate career and is 23 hits shy of becoming the program's all-time hits leader.
Cushing became the program's all-time home runs leader in 2019 and overtook first place on the all-time RBIs list last season. The first baseman from Flower Mound, Texas is already in six other top 10 career stat categories and is on pace to break into five more career stat leader lists by the end of the 2021 season.
In addition to the 2021 All-Conference Preseason Team, C-USA also announced the Preseason Player of the Year, Preseason Pitcher of the Year and predicted order of finish, as voted on by the league's coaches. Marshall infielder Aly Harrell was named Preseason Player of the Year, while Hope Trautwein of North Texas was named the league's Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
MT was picked to finish fourth in the east division in 2021. Western Kentucky was slated to finish first, while Marshall and Charlotte followed at No. 2 and 3, respectively. Florida Atlantic and FIU were picked to finish behind the Blue Raiders. MT will host WKU, Marshall and FIU this season and will travel to Charlotte and Florida Atlantic.
"Our division is as tough as it's ever been," Breeden added. "We're looking forward to playing some competitive series against the other teams in our league, and we've got a good schedule lined up to prepare us for league play."
In the west division, North Texas received 10 first place votes, followed by UAB and Southern Miss at No. 2 and 3. UTSA, Louisiana Tech and UTEP rounded out the last of the west division.
The 2021 C-USA Championships are set for May 12-15 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
For more on the return of Summer Burgess and Lexi Cushing to the Blue Raider lineup in 2021, read a feature story written by GoBlueRaiders.com staff writer Josh Vardaman here.
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Softball), Facebook (Blue Raider Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
EAST
1. WKU (8)
2. Marshall (3)
3. Charlotte (1)
4. Middle Tennessee
5. Florida Atlantic
6. FIU
WEST
1. North Texas (10)
2. UAB (1)
3. Southern Miss (1)
4. UTSA
5. Louisiana Tech
6. UTEP
(first place votes in parentheses)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aly Harrell, Marshall (Senior, IF)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Hope Trautwein, North Texas (Senior, RHP)
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Pitcher: Kelsey Aikey (R-Sr., WKU)
Pitcher: Shelby Nunn (R-Jr., WKU)
Pitcher: Hope Trautwein (Sr., North Texas)
Catcher: Kendall Smith (R-Jr., WKU)
Catcher: Bailey Vannoy (Jr., Charlotte)
Infielder: Sierra Huerta (Sr., Marshall)
Infielder: Summer Burgess (Gr., Middle Tennessee)
Infielder: Lexi Cushing (Gr., Middle Tennessee)
Infielder: Aly Harrell (Sr., Marshall)
Infielder: Riley Grunberg (So., UTSA)
Infielder: Tayla Evans (Jr., North Texas)
Outfielder: Kasey Flores (Jr., UTEP)
Outfielder: Mya Stevenson (Jr., Marshall)
Outfielder: Celeste Loughman (Sr., UTSA)
Outfielder: Madison Rayner (Jr., Southern Miss)
DP/Utility: Saige Pye (Sr., Marshall)
