Softball players make SWAC preseason, then team goes winless
Photo courtesy FAMU athletics
Special to the Outlook
A week before opening its season, the FAMU softball team put four players on the Preseason All-SWAC Second Team.
The Rattlers were also predicted to finish third in the East Division behind Alabama State and Bethune-Cookman.
The Rattlers (0-5) opened the season with a schedule of five games in three days. They started the weekend with a Friday doubleheader against Texas Tech losing 11-1 and 9-2 on their home field.
FAMU went across town for the FSU invitational tournament, facing FSU and Charlotte, opening up with a 9-0 loss to the Seminoles before falling 8-0 to Charlotte.
The Rattlers and Seminoles concluded the tournament Sunday afternoon, when FSU recorded its second win over FAMU, 8-2.
The Rattlers were led by Nyomi Jones, who went 1 for 4 with a RBI. Senior Nyah Morgan put together a standout performance as well, going 1 for 2 with a double. Junior Kiauna Watson also contributed with two hits in four trips to the plate.
FSU pitcher Ashtyn Danley earned her second career victory for the Seminoles, pitching three complete innings. She struck out two and allowing two runs on five hits.
The Seminoles go to Clearwater this weekend for the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational. Their first of game is against No. 3 Stanford on Thursday in a 4 p.m. that will be televised by ESPNU.
FAMU will play their next five games in the Troy University Tournament in Alabama, beginning Thursday at 6 p.m. against the host team.
The Rattlers went into the season-opening weekend with the preseason picks as second teamers.
The Rattlers were led by catcher Nyah Morgan, who was named to the All-SWAC Second Team in 2023. Morgan led the Rattlers last season with 25 runs batted in and doubles with 14. Morgan had the second best slugging percentage of .552 behind 2023 First Team All-SWAC outfielder Melkayla Irvis. Morgan also scored 23 times, tied with Kiauna Watson for the most amongst returners.
Outfielder Mia Blasingane was also named to the Preseason All-SWAC Second Team. Blasingane had a season batting average of .304 with 31 hits and 19 runs scored. She also drove in seven runs. Blasingane also recorded 17 steals.
Second baseman Kiauna Watson was also named to the Preseason All-SWAC Second Team, as Watson is the Rattlers returning leader in hits (32), stolen bases (21), and runs scored (23).
Pitcher Lauryn Peppers was also named to the Preseason All-SWAC Second Team after Peppers picked up seven wins and struck out 75 batters in 25 appearances. Peppers also held opposing battier average of .250.
