Career Awards & Honors:
At the end of her career she ranks first in hit-by-pitches (30), second in slugging percentage (min. 190 ABs, .643) and OPS (min. 190 ABs, 1.105), third in on-base percentage (min. 190 ABs, .461) and home runs (22), tied for fifth in RBIs (122) and extra base hits (63), tied for seventh in walks (56), eighth in doubles (34), ninth in batting average (min. 190 ABs, .349), 11th in total bases (249) and 20th in putouts (453)
D2CCA 2nd-team All-American UT (2023)
D2CCA 1st-team All-Region UT (2023)
NFCA 2nd-team All-Region DP or UT/non-P (2023)
3x All-MIAA selection (1st-team UT/non-P in 2022, 2nd-team 2B in 2023 and Honorable Mention UT in 2021)
MIAA Academic Honor Roll (2022)
MIAA transfer and first-year Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)
MSSU single-season record for hit-by-pitches (12 in 2021)
MIAA HItter of the Week (2023)
Tied a MSSU single-game record for hit-by-pitches (3 vs. Washburn, Apr. 21st)
MSSU Senior walks drawn record holder (32 in 2023)
MSSU Senior hit-by-pitches record holder (13 in 2023)
2023 - Withers concluded one of the all-time careers for the Lions with a start in all 56 games the Lions played in with stints at second base, first base and designated player ... Finished the season with a .368 average, 57 hits, 155 at-bats, 28 runs scored, 14 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, 46 RBIs, 32 walks drawn, six stolen bases with a .710 slugging percentage and .505 on-base percentage for a 1.215 OPS ... Defensively she recorded 173 putouts, 48 assists while helping turn 12 doubles plays ... Among program senior ranks Withers finished tied for first in home runs, tied for second in extra base hits, third in RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage (min. 95 ABs.), on-base percentage (min. 95 ABs.) and OPS (min. 95 ABs.) tied for third in doubles and 10th in batting average (min. 95 ABs.).
2022 - Withers appeared and started in 39 games for the lions as an infielder... Finished the season with 115 at bats, 23 runs, 40 hits, 12 doubles, eight home runs, 42 RBIs while slugging .661 with a .421 on base percentage and had 176 putouts and 30 assists... Hit her 10th career home run against Pittsburg State (April. 9) and had her 75th RBI of her career against Emporia State (April. 16).
2021 - Withers appeared in 46 games for the Lions starting in 44 across the infield ... Finished the season with a .325 batting average with 38 hits, 26 runs, eight doubles, four triples (3rd in MIAA, 36th in Division II), three home runs, a team-high 34 RBIs, drew 13 walks, set a new school record for hit-by-pitches with 12 (3rd in MIAA, 23rd in Division II), had a .538 slugging percentage, a .438 on-base percentage to go with 106 putouts and 35 assists ... Tied a MSSU record with three hit-by-pitches in the Lions 9-5 win over Washburn (Apr. 21st) ... Had four RBIs in the Lions 12-4 win over Lincoln (Apr. 17th) ... Hit the game-winning seventh inning double that drove in two that advanced the Lions into the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament against Missouri Western (May. 7th) ... Part of the Lions team that was in Division II, second in triples (24), ninth in triples per game (0.52), 14
th in double plays turned (17), hit-by-pitches (42) and stolen bases (99). Finished 23
rd in stolen bases per game (2.15), 29
th in sacrifice bunts (32), 41
st in double plays turned per game (0.37) and 49
th in win-loss percentage (0.663). In the MIAA the Lions ranked first in double plays turned, stolen bases per game, stolen bases, triples and triples per game, second in double plays turned per game, hit-by-pitches and sacrifice bunts. Ranked third in on-base percentage (0.366) and scoring average (4.91), fourth in runs scored (226) and win-loss percentage, sixth in ERA (3.27), hits (345) and WHIP (1.46).
Prior to Southern - Withers prepped at Harmony Grove High School in Benton, Arkansas where she was involved in the softball, basketball and volleyball teams ... On the softball field Withers boasted a career that included a .480 batting average, .580 on-base percentage with 165 hits, 26 home runs, 142 runs scored adn 135 RBI's ... A four-time All-Conference selection and an All-State performer while helping the Cardinals capture the 2018 Class 3A State Championship ... Withers started her collegiate career at Ouachita Baptist University a Division II school that competes in the Great American Conference (GAC) ... At Ouachita Baptist as a freshman Withers appeared in 52 games getting the start in 49, finished the season with a .227 batting average that included 29 hits, nine were doubles and seven were home runs while also picking up 26 RBI's and scoring 25 runs herself ... Named onto the 2019 GAC All-Tournament team after helping the Tigers to a 5-4 upset over No. 19 Southern Arkansas in the opening round with the win being from a game-winning home run in the eighth inning by Withers ... In the 2020 shortened season Withers started in all 21 games for the Tigers while boasting a .302 batting average with 16 hits, three doubles and three home runs to go along with scoring five runs herself and picking up five RBI's.
Personal - Leighton is the daughter of Jennifer and Chad Withers and plans on majoring in business administration and marketing during her time at Southern.
