The No. 4-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University softball squad placed five players on the NFCA’s All-Southeast Region team, released in conjunction with this weekend’s NCAA Division II Regional action.

The Pirates placed three players on the first team - senior pitcher Megan Barnwell, senior utility-pitcher Shelby Duff and junior third baseman Kacie Patterson, while freshman first baseman Hannah Reppert and sophomore shortstop Alexis Mercer earned second-team honors.

Duff, an Effingham County High School grad, adds All-Region honors to her already impressive honor count as the All-PBC and CoSIDA Academic All-American ranks among the league’s leaders in doubles (14) and runs scored (34) while batting .349 this season, also going 7-3 in the circle with a 3.54 ERA.

Mercer, a former South Effingham High School star, was the 2013 Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year for hitting .368 with 13 home runs and 41 RBI.