Bachkora Dixon earn academic honors

FAYETTEVILLE— University of Arkansas softball student-athletes Jessica Bachkora and Miranda Dixon have been named to the 2010 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District team, it was announced Thursday.

Bachkora was named to the first team while Dixon earned recognition on the second team.

They represent two of the 12 student-athletes chosen from District 6 for their achievements in the classroom. To be available for selection, nominees must carry a 3.30 cumulative grade point average.

Bachkora owns a 3.94 GPA as a Kinesiology and Biomechanics major. This is the third selection for Bachkora, her second-straight year with first-team honors. She was previously a member of the 2008 District 6 ESPN The Magazine Academic second team.

As a senior, Bachkora has set a career-high in nearly every offensive category: batting average, runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage, walks and on-base percentage. Her marks for runs and total bases represent new Arkansas single-season records. Her solo home run on May 2 against Ole Miss, gave her 14 home runs for the season, matching the Arkansas school record for home runs in a season set by current Razorback Sandra Smith in 2008.

This is Dixon’s third time as an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Distrtict honoree, her first time on the second team. As a health science major, Dixon carries a 3.5 GPA.

In 2010, Dixon boats a .320 average, and ranks second on the team with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs. She has also set the Razorback single-season mark for walks with 39. The Edmond, Okla., native is batting a team-high .371 against Southeastern Conference opponents. Dixon is the career leader in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, home runs, and RBIs.

As a member of the all-district first team, Bachkora is now up for Academic All-America honors.

As a team, the Razorbacks will wrap up the regular season with a three-game weekend series against Auburn in Auburn, Ala. Arkansas is currently in seventh place overall in the Southeastern Conference and with a win this weekend will secure a spot in the 2010 SEC Softball Tournament.