BURNSVILLE — Southwest Minnesota State University softball players Abby Boxrud and Paris Van Dyke were named to the 2024 All-NSIC Defensive team, the league office announced on Tuesday. The all-conference teams and specialty awards were selected by the conference head coaches.

Boxrud, a sophomore, and Van Dyke, a freshman, are the first Mustang softball players to earn defensive honors since Taylor Koloc in 2016.

Boxrud, a native of Red Wing, started all 51 games in right field for the Mustangs this season, leading the team with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 68 putouts and three assists, including a double-play assist against Minnesota Crookston on March 25.

On the offensive end, Boxrud batted .256 (31 for 121) with a pair of doubles, eight RBI, and 20 runs scored.

Van Dyke, a native of Luverne, started 43 games at first base, leading all SMSU infielders with a .997 fielding percentage and 305 putouts with six assists, while tallying just one error. In 28 conference games, she finished second in the NSIC in fielding double plays (13), fourth in putouts (193), 14th in fielding percentage (.995), and tied for second in the league with just one error, while posting double-digit putouts in seven games.

On offense, Van Dyke tallied 13 hits including a double, triple, and home run, while recording nine RBI, five runs scored and finishing a perfect 5-for-5 on stolen bases.

SMSU finished the season 19-32 overall and 10-18 in NSIC play.