Senior Spotlights: Megan McDonald

Megan McDonald has been a model student-athlete since she joined the Sam Houston State softball program as a freshman in 2017.

The four-year starter in center field just completed her first year of graduate school for a master's degree in public administration after earning her bachelor's degree last year in kinesiology. A 2020 preseason first-team All-Southland Conference selection, McDonald was hitting .398 before the season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Dear Sam Houston State softball, thank you. Thank you for taking me in and giving me some of the best years of my life," McDonald said in her farewell video on the softball team's Facebook page. "You have shown me I'm stronger than I could ever imagine. You have given me some of my highest highs and some of my lowest lows, but through every struggle I faced, I came out better than I was before."

McDonald led the Bearkats in average, RBI (15), hits (35) and slugging percentage (.455) while hitting at the top of the lineup this past season. She was named the SLC Hitter of the Week after hitting .520 with a .640 slugging percentage and .538 on-base percentage in six games versus Texas A&M, North Dakota State and Louisiana Tech earlier in the season.

McDonald was named first-team All-SLC in 2019 after helping guide the Bearkats to one of the best seasons in school history since the program moved to the Division I level. Sam Houston State won the regular-season Southland Conference championship and the league's postseason tournament to earn its second trip to the NCAA Tournament.

The Kats upset No. 9 Texas 2-1 in the opening game of the Austin Regional. McDonald was 1 for 3 with a run scored in the contest.

"My time at Sam Houston has given me opportunities that I never thought possible," McDonald said. "It has shown me that you have to work hard for the things that you want and that you will never forget that hard work."

McDonald hit .264 and started all 51 games as a true freshman in 2017. The Georgetown native was honorable mention All-SLC in 2018 after leading the Bearkats in batting average (.310) and hits (53).

"Megan has been a rock for us her entire career on and off the field," head coach Garrett Valis said. "Her leadership, moral compass and athleticism have been instrumental to our culture. She has been all in from day one and has not looked back, improving each season in any way that she could and was having an unbelievable year before the season was cut short.

"Megan is extremely tough. I cannot stress that enough, and I believe it fueled her to find a way to success which she did so well. I appreciate Megan so much for everything she did and what she will leave behind will continue to propel our program in a positive direction. Megan too, has left her mark in the record book and will be finishing up her master's this coming year, so I anticipate she will still have that positive impact on our program."

McDonald's impact at Sam Houston State goes further than her success on the field.

She is an Executive Council member of SHSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has made numerous President's and Dean's lists during her academic career. McDonald is recognized by faculty as an ambassador to the university by serving as an Orange Key.

She also helps mentor incoming freshmen student-athletes and was the coordinator of a school supply drive that gives away 100 backpacks to local children in conjunction with Academy among many other contributions to the university and community.

"I have gotten to represent this university on the field as a student-athlete, as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and as a university ambassador through the Orange Keys," McDonald said. "Each of these organizations have played a vital role in my growth these past four years. I felt pride in every chance that I had to put on a uniform, and I always felt pushed to a higher standard when wearing Sam Houston State across my chest.

"Some advice to some of you who will be continuing your softball journey is to simply enjoy every single moment. Keep the game just the game and learn to have fun with it."

Senior Spotlights: Megan McDonald

Players Mentioned

Megan McDonald

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