UNCW Athletic Hall of Fame
A long ball hitter and workhorse catcher, Hughes was one of the most feared hitters during her four-year career with the softball team from 2006-09.
The durable backstop started all but three games in 185 career appearances and collected 73 extra base hits and 144 runs batted in.
The Cary, N.C., product became the first Seahawk softball player to earn CAA Player-of-the-Year honors in 2007 after leading the conference and ranking among the nation’s top run-producers. With 45 career home runs and a .374 career batting average, she was named to the CAA’s 25th Anniversary team in 2009-10.
In 2007, Hughes was singled out by the NCAA as the toughest batter to strike out after fanning just three times in 172 at-bats. When her stellar career drew to a close in 2009, she had been named All-CAA three times, including First-Team in 2007 on the strength of a CAA-record .448 batting clip with 18 home runs and 62 RBI’s.
Statistically, Hughes ranks first in school history in career slugging percentage, home runs and total bases, and holds single season records for slugging percentage, home runs, total bases, hits and RBIs.
