WALTHAM, Mass. – Five members of the Bentley University softball team, including graduate student Ella Hillier (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin HS), have received 2023 CSC NCAA Division II Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Communicators.

Hillier, a two-time honoree, was joined by senior center fielder Sam Petow (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury HS), junior pitcher Payton Doiron (Beacon Falls, Conn./St. Joseph HS)¸ senior third baseman Jess Trahan (Merrimack, N.H./Merrimack HS) and junior shortstop Sabrina Grizzaffi (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield HS).

All five have grade point averages of at least 3.5 and will advance to the national ballot for CSC Academic All-America consideration.

Hillier, a catcher, finished her career as Bentley's all-time leader in games (170), at bats (537), runs scored (100), doubles (40), extra base hits (49) and RBI (89). The MBA candidate and second-team All-Northeast-10 selection hit a career-high .349 and slugged .430 this season with 52 hits, 31 runs scored and 27 RBI.

Doiron, who majors in economics-finance and liberal studies, had a standout year in the center circle for the Falcons, one that saw her break school records for wins and strikeouts in a season. The first-team All-Northeast-10 honoree finished 17-6 with 186 strikeouts and four shutouts, including a no-hitter against Saint Rose. She finished the season only seven strikeouts shy of 300 career, by far the most in program history.

Petow, the Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year, started every game in center for the second straight season. A professional sales major, she hit a career-high .321 and scored 35 runs. During the recent NCAA Division II East Regionals, she surpassed 100 career hits.

Trahan, a finance major, also had a career year while starting all 47 games at the hot corner. She hit .374 with her 39 hits including five doubles and a triple.

Grizzaffi, who earned both All-Conference first team and Northeast-10 All-Defensive Team honors. She finished with a .243 batting average and a .954 fielding percentage with only six errors in 131 chances.

Bentley had a historic season, finishing 30-16-1 while reaching the NCAA East 1 Region championship game.