University of Georgia Athletics
Six Bulldogs Selected to All-SEC Teams
May 12, 2023 | Softball
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A total of six Georgia Bulldogs have been named to the 2023 All-SEC Teams, the league announced Friday morning.
Junior outfielder Jayda Kearney, senior second baseman Sydney Kuma, senior third baseman Sara Mosley, and graduate right-handed pitcher Shelby Walters all earned First Team accolades. Redshirt-seniro first baseman Jaiden Fields and junior right-handed pitcher Madison Kerpics appear on the Second Team. Additionally, Kuma has been recognized on the SEC All-Defensive Team.
"I'm so proud of this group earning All-Conference recognition," head coach Tony Baldwin said. "They have been highly consistent and have put together a competitive SEC season. I'm excited for them to be recognized for their accomplishments and we're looking forward to them finishing the season on a strong note."
Georgia's six All-SEC picks is the most by the Bulldogs since 2016 when seven were honored. Additionally, this is the first time Georgia has placed two pitchers on the All-Conference squads in program history.
Jayda Kearney, a native of Columbus, New Jersey, finished SEC play in the top 10 in six categories including batting average (.353), slugging (.765), on base percentage (.464), hits (24), home runs (8), and total bases (52) while finishing 11th with 18 RBI. She was Georgia's leader in batting, runs scored, hits, RBI, slugging, walks, and on base percentage in Conference play.
This is Kearney's second First Team All-SEC appointment (2022, 2023) and she was an SEC All-Freshman Team member in 2021.
Fresno, California native Sydney Kuma earns her the first First Team honor of her career following Second Team honors in 2022 and All-Newcomer Team honors in 2021. Kuma's .323 average finished 13th while she finished ninth with a .629 slugging percentage and 13th with a .432 on base clip.
Kuma's defensive prowess landed her a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team as a second baseman. Kuma becomes Georgia's first infielder to earn All-Defensive Team honors since Alisa Goler (third base) and Brianna Hesson (first base) earned the honor in 2011.
Sara Mosley, hailing from Elijay, Georgia, concluded 12th in batting (.324) and was fourth in slugging (.757). Her 24 hits in SEC play matched Kearney's but her nine home runs led Georgia while finishing second in the league. Mosley totaled 56 total bases to finished third.
Like Kearney, this is Mosley's second First Team honor in her career (2022, 2023). Mosley earned All-America status as well in 2022.
Shelby Walters, who hails from Cohutta, Georgia, transferred to Georgia this season from Duke and made an immediate impact in the circle. Walters' 1.61 SEC ERA finished fifth in the league while she pitched the fifth-most innings (69.2). Her six wins tied for sixth-most while her six saves led the league in 2023. She made the most appearances (19), making 11 in relief.
Walters was a 2021 First Team All-ACC performer for the Blue Devils as she adds First Team All-SEC to her resume.
Jaiden Fields from Kennesaw, Georgia, hit .309 in SEC play, slugging five home runs, and driving in 13 runs. She concluded the Conference season slugging .574 with a .356 on base percentage.
This is Fields' first postseason SEC honor of her career.
Suwanee, Georgia native Madison Kerpics earns Second Team All-SEC honors after finishing 9-3 in Conference play, the fourth-most wins of anyone in the league in 14 starts. In 68 innings, Kerpics' 61 strikeouts finished seventh in the league while her 17 punchouts finished fifth.
This is Kerpics' first postseason SEC honor of her career.
The Bulldogs will await the NCAA Tournament selection show on Sunday, May 14. The selection special will air on ESPN 2 at 7 p.m., ET.
Junior outfielder Jayda Kearney, senior second baseman Sydney Kuma, senior third baseman Sara Mosley, and graduate right-handed pitcher Shelby Walters all earned First Team accolades. Redshirt-seniro first baseman Jaiden Fields and junior right-handed pitcher Madison Kerpics appear on the Second Team. Additionally, Kuma has been recognized on the SEC All-Defensive Team.
"I'm so proud of this group earning All-Conference recognition," head coach Tony Baldwin said. "They have been highly consistent and have put together a competitive SEC season. I'm excited for them to be recognized for their accomplishments and we're looking forward to them finishing the season on a strong note."
Georgia's six All-SEC picks is the most by the Bulldogs since 2016 when seven were honored. Additionally, this is the first time Georgia has placed two pitchers on the All-Conference squads in program history.
Jayda Kearney, a native of Columbus, New Jersey, finished SEC play in the top 10 in six categories including batting average (.353), slugging (.765), on base percentage (.464), hits (24), home runs (8), and total bases (52) while finishing 11th with 18 RBI. She was Georgia's leader in batting, runs scored, hits, RBI, slugging, walks, and on base percentage in Conference play.
This is Kearney's second First Team All-SEC appointment (2022, 2023) and she was an SEC All-Freshman Team member in 2021.
Fresno, California native Sydney Kuma earns her the first First Team honor of her career following Second Team honors in 2022 and All-Newcomer Team honors in 2021. Kuma's .323 average finished 13th while she finished ninth with a .629 slugging percentage and 13th with a .432 on base clip.
Kuma's defensive prowess landed her a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team as a second baseman. Kuma becomes Georgia's first infielder to earn All-Defensive Team honors since Alisa Goler (third base) and Brianna Hesson (first base) earned the honor in 2011.
Sara Mosley, hailing from Elijay, Georgia, concluded 12th in batting (.324) and was fourth in slugging (.757). Her 24 hits in SEC play matched Kearney's but her nine home runs led Georgia while finishing second in the league. Mosley totaled 56 total bases to finished third.
Like Kearney, this is Mosley's second First Team honor in her career (2022, 2023). Mosley earned All-America status as well in 2022.
Shelby Walters, who hails from Cohutta, Georgia, transferred to Georgia this season from Duke and made an immediate impact in the circle. Walters' 1.61 SEC ERA finished fifth in the league while she pitched the fifth-most innings (69.2). Her six wins tied for sixth-most while her six saves led the league in 2023. She made the most appearances (19), making 11 in relief.
Walters was a 2021 First Team All-ACC performer for the Blue Devils as she adds First Team All-SEC to her resume.
Jaiden Fields from Kennesaw, Georgia, hit .309 in SEC play, slugging five home runs, and driving in 13 runs. She concluded the Conference season slugging .574 with a .356 on base percentage.
This is Fields' first postseason SEC honor of her career.
Suwanee, Georgia native Madison Kerpics earns Second Team All-SEC honors after finishing 9-3 in Conference play, the fourth-most wins of anyone in the league in 14 starts. In 68 innings, Kerpics' 61 strikeouts finished seventh in the league while her 17 punchouts finished fifth.
This is Kerpics' first postseason SEC honor of her career.
The Bulldogs will await the NCAA Tournament selection show on Sunday, May 14. The selection special will air on ESPN 2 at 7 p.m., ET.
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