COLUMBIA, S.C. - Despite CIU Softball's season ending just over two weeks ago, the Rams are still picking up accolades as infielder Lauren Baker was named the 2023 Deb Thompson Award Recipient by the NCCAA on Tuesday. The award is given in honor of legendary NCCAA softball coach Deb Thompson to the NCCAA softball player who best reflects Thompson's selfless service and competitive excellence. 

Baker, a senior infielder from Windso, N.C., was deemed a perfect fit for the award, having used her personal story of overcoming blindness, plastic surgery, and open heart surgery to inspire her teammates and coaches throughout her college career. 

During the 2023 season, she led the team with a .402 batting average, three home runs, nine stolen bases, and a team low in strikeouts with four across the season. A starter at shortstop or second base, Baker boasts a .809 fielding percentage for the Rams. In 2022, Baker was named to the All-Tournament team after leading her team to a runner-up finish at the NCCAA Softball World Series.

Baker has excelled in the classroom as an NCCAA & NAIA Scholar-Athlete as well as an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Academic performer. 

Head softball coach Sara Allen commented on Baker, saying, "I'm delighted and proud for LB to receive this award. She has overcome so many obstacles to play the sport she loves and has allowed those challenges to grow her into a leader on and off the field. It's a great testimony to the cool ways the Lord has been working in her life!"

For the full NCCAA Deb Thompson Award release, click here.