WASHINGTON - University of Dayton senior Izzy Kemp has been named the 2026 Atlantic 10 Softball Pitcher of the Year, highlighting a total of five Flyers who were named to all-conference teams Thursday. Kemp is the fourth Dayton player to earn the Pitcher of the Year award, the first since 2016.

Kemp has left her mark on the UD record book, setting new program records this season for career strikeouts (785) and single-season strikeouts (260) and with her save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over George Washington in the team's first game of the 2026 Atlantic Championship, she tied the career saves record at 18. The righty was named the A-10 Pitcher of the Week five times this season and tallied a career-high 16 wins. On March 14, Kemp recorded a career-high 18 strikeouts in a 2-1, eight-inning win at Fordham, one of 14 double-digit K contests this season for the Westfield, Ind., native.

The major awards as well as All-Conference and All-Rookie were voted on by the league head coaches.

MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
Player of the Year: Ashley Corpus, George Washington
Pitcher of the Year: Izzy Kemp, Dayton
Coach of the Year: Alicia Abbott, Loyola Chicago
Rookie of the Year: Anna Kiel, Loyola Chicago
Defensive Player of the Year: Kate McGuire, Fordham

Dayton had three players named to the All-Conference First Team in junior shortstop Kirnan Bailey and junior designated player Deirdre Flaherty along with Kemp. Flaherty also earned mention on the Second Team at catcher, joining sophomore outfielder Mickie Shively while freshman Hayden Baird was named to the All-Rookie Team.

Three Flyers were also selected to the All-Academic Team in voting among member athletics communications contacts: Kirnan Bailey, Deirdre Flaherty, Izzy Kemp.

The 2026 A-10 Championship continues Thursday with top-seeded Loyola Chicago facing No. 4 Fordham followed by Dayton's match-up against host No. 2 Saint Louis. The final game of the day will be an elimination contest between fifth-seeded Saint Joseph's and the lowest remaining seed in the loser's bracket.

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

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