Francis Marion University Athletics

FMU:  2-year returning starter....CoSIDA Academic All-District Team 2022....Conference Carolinas All-Conference Team (first team) 2022....Conference Carolinas All-Defensive Team (SS) 2022....Conference Carolinas Spring Academic All-Conference Team 2022....PBC Team of Academic Distinction 2021....Team MVP 2020....Started all 32 games in 2021 (26 at SS, 4 at 2B, 2 at 3B)....6 multi-hit games and 2 multi-RBI games....Led team with 5 homers and 21 runs scored....6-game hitting streak....Reached 48% of the time when leading off....Ranked 23rd nationally in HBPs....Peach Belt Conference rankings: 2nd in hit-by-pitches (12) and 3rd in fielding assists (76)....Started all 27 games as a junior (13 at 2B, 14 at 3B)....Led team and ranked 3rd in the PBC with a .444 batting average....Team-best .559 on-base percentage....11 multi-hit games and 4 multi-RBI games....Ranked 18th in NCAA II in total 36 hits....Batted .542 with runners in scoring position....PBC rankings:  1st in on-base percentage; 3rd in HBPs, hits, and doubles; 5th in total bases.....Ended the 2020 season reaching base safely in last 18 games....Transfer from Carson-Newman University, where she played two seasons....A great addition to our program....Someone who wants to be coached and wants to get better....Has played in our (NCAA) region and knows the quality of opponents we will face.....A staple on defense for a CNU team that went to the NCAA regionals last year and we are hoping she can bring that knowledge and skill to Florence....Very good student in the classroom....Swamp Fox Academic Award 2021-22....NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete 2021, 2022....Chi Alpha Sigma national college athlete honor society.....Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award 2020, 2021, 2022....Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll 2021....FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll 2019 (fall), 2020 (spring, fall), 2021 (spring, fall), 2022 (spring)....Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll 2022.

CNU: As a sophomore, started 31 games primarily in a defensive role, but did drive in three runs in limited plate appearances....Began a scoring rally in an NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament win over Anderson University while crossing the plate a career-high three times.....During freshman season (2018), appeared in seven games and earned one start as the Eagles again went to the NCAA Tournament.....CN Gold Eagle Scholar Award recipient 2018, 2019.

PERSONAL:

• Born Ashtyn Elizabeth Patterson in Knoxville, TN
• A graduate of Union County High School, where she played for coaches Lance Lay and Gary Clevenger
• Finished her prep career with a .385 average, a .475 on-base percentage, 110 RBIs, 132 runs scored, and 10 homers
• All-State honors from the TSCA
• 4-time All-District pick
• Her senior year, named District Player of the Year
• Led her team to back-to-back district titles, and the program’s first state tournament appearance (2016)
• Finished prep career with a .976 fielding percentage
• Hit .486 (senior year) and .441 (sophomore year)
• As a junior, named District Defensive Player of the Year and All-Tournament
• 3-time All-District selection on the volleyball court (including District Player of the Year as a senior)
• High School Valedictorian
• Nickname is Ash

PERSONAL FAVORITES:

• As a child what you wanted to be when you grew up:  I wanted to be a Vet, but turns out I'm allergic to most animals, so that put a damper on that plan
• How you got your nickname: That's a tough one. 
• Favorite Superhero: Spider Man 
• Favorite Athletes:  Chipper Jones or Peyton Manning 
• Favorite Sports Team: Atlanta Braves 
• Favorite Movie or TV Show: TV puts me to sleep, so I don't watch it much, but I like Grey's Anatomy and the Bachelor
• Favorite Food:  Any kind of chicken 
• Favorite Vacation Spot:  I like traveling to new places, so I don't really have a favorite that I always go to; I guess my
• favorite place I've been to so far is either Rome or Grand Cayman. 
• Twitter Handle: @AshtynPatterson
• Instagram Account: ashtynpatterson05
• Favorite Musical Artist: Luke Combs or George Strait; Really anything country
• Favorite Thing About FMU:  I love our athletic complex and all the great relationships I have made there so far
• Favorite Off-Field/court Activity:  Working out, traveling and being a dog mom (go follow @tuck.erthe.bernedoodle on insta)
• Goals for Upcoming Season:  I want to soak up every minute of my last season, and help my team any way that I can, on or off the field
• Why you first chose your sport: My dad talked me into playing softball when I was 7 because my sister was a cheerleader, and I honestly think he was just trying to get me to like something else so he didn't have to be a cheer dad 24/7; I guess it worked because here we are 15 years later
• Biggest mental challenge in your sport: Controlling the controlables
• Interesting Notes: I am from the same county as Kenny Chesney