DALLAS (NCBWA) – New Mexico State outfielder Daniel Johnson has been named the National Hitter of the Month and Mississippi State junior right-handed starting pitcher Dakota Hudson has been named National Pitcher of the Month in May by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, it was announced on Monday afternoon.

Johnson, a native of Vallejo, Calif., hit .437 (31-for-71) during May, with three doubles, two triples, six homers and 20 RBI. He totaled a .789 slugging and a .468 on-base percentage during the month, stealing 7-of-9 bases. The Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Johnson finished his junior season with a .382 (94-for-246) average in 57 games, with 11 doubles, seven triples, 12 homers and 50 RBI, stealing 29-of-33 bases and sporting a .630 slugging and a .434 on-base percentage.

A native of Dunlap, Tenn., Hudson had a prolific May while pacing Mississippi State to the 2016 Southeastern Conference regular-season title. The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder finished with a 3-1 record and a 0.86 ERA in four starts in May. Hudson tossed two complete-game shutouts in 31.1 innings, allowing 27 hits and just four walks, striking out 33. Hudson lead the Bulldogs with a 9-4 record in 2016, with a 2.62 ERA, hurling three complete games in 106.2 innings, allowing just 99 hits and 34 walks, striking out 109.

The 2016 season marked the first for the NCBWA in honoring players of the month.

Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association's official Web site, www.ncbwa.com.

For more information on the NCBWA Division I National Players of the Month, contact NCBWA Assistant Executive Director Mike Montoro at West Virginia University at 304-293-2821.

2016 NCBWA Division I Players of the Week:
• Feb. 21: Jeren Kendall, Vanderbilt (Hitter); Zach Muckenhirn, North Dakota (Pitcher)
• Feb. 28: Brandon Gutzler, Murray State (Hitter); Logan Shore, Florida (Pitcher)
• March 6: Darik Hall, Dallas Baptist (Hitter); Lucas Humpal, Texas State (Pitcher)
• March 13: Joe Cronin, Boston College (Hitter); Jesse Scholtens, Wright State (Pitcher)
• March 20: John Jones, South Carolina (Hitter); Seth Romero, Houston (Pitcher)
• March 27: Tyler Chadwick, Coastal Carolina (Hitter); Ryan Hingst, Arizona State (Pitcher)
• April 5: Tanner Kirwer, Niagara (Hitter); Andrew Wantz, UNCG (Pitcher)
• April 12: Michael Davis, Texas Tech (Hitter); Zac Gallen, North Carolina (Pitcher)
• April 19: Greg Guers, Penn State (Hitter); Shane McCarthy, Seton Hall (Pitcher)
• April 26: Logan Gray, Austin Peay (Hitter); Cody Sedlock, Illinois (Pitcher)
• May 3: J.B Woodman, Ole Miss (Hitter); Chad Donato, West Virginia (Pitcher)
• May 10: Brandon Soat, IPFW (Hitter); Kyle Simonds, Texas A&M (Pitcher)
• May 17: Blake Benefield, Middle Tennessee (Hitter); Eric Lauer, Kent State (Pitcher)
• May 24: Dillon Cooper, Alabama State (Hitter); Sam Perez, Missouri State (Pitcher)

2016 NCBWA Division I Players of the Month:
• February: Taylor Braley, Southern Miss (Hitter); Brendon McKay, Lousiville (Pitcher)
• March: Seth Beer, Clemson (Hitter); Seth Romero, Houston and Clarke Schmidt, South Carolina (Pitcher)
• April: Hunter Melton, Texas A&M (Hitter); Will Hibbs, Lamar (Pitcher)
• May: Daniel Johnson, New Mexico State (Hitter); Dakota Hudson, Mississippi State (Pitcher)