A great season for Natalie Higgins has gotten even more recognition on Thursday as she earned 2021 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division 1 All-Region honors, named to the Great Lakes First Team.

HONORS: Higgins Earns NFCA Great Lakes All-Region First Team Accolades

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Higgins is the first RMU player to earn NFCA Division 1 All-Region First Team honors since Keri Meyer and Kali Byers in 2005. She is also the fifth player in program history to receive the accolades and joins former Colonials Erin Cooper (1995), Sara Headley (1997), Kali Byers (2005), and Keri Meyer (2005).

A native of Middletown, Ohio, Higgins helped lead the Colonials to an overall record of 25-19 and a record of 20-14 in their first season in the Horizon League. In her 44 games in the starting lineup, Higgins led the team with a batting average of .412. She also lead the team in runs (27), doubles (10). home runs (9), RBI (43), and total bases (100) in 2021 becoming just the second player in program history to bat above .400.

Named to the 2021 All-Horizon League First Team, Higgins hit safely in 10 straight games in April when she collected nine runs, three doubles, four home runs, and 11 RBIs. Higgins led the Colonials in on-base percentage (.463) as well as slugging percentage (.676).

Against IUPUI in April, Higgins established the RMU record for doubles by getting her 42nd of her career. Higgins went 3-for-4 in the game and earned career hit no. 200 with a double during her final plate appearance of the game.

Higgins ended her career with the Colonials with a .339 batting average in 198 games and started in all but two games. She owns the record for doubles with 45, and also ranks second all-time in RBI with 129. She also ranks third for games played and hits (213), fourth in home runs (25), and eighth in batting average. The Colonials fell in the Horizon League tournament after a great regular season.