NORFOLK, Va. – The Delaware State Lady Hornets and the Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcats were predicted to win the softball northern and southern divisions, respectively, in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), the conference announced on today. All preseason honors were voted on by the conference’s head softball coaches and sports information directors.

Savannah State’s Torrian Wright was selected as the conference’s Preseason Player of the Year, while Sabrina Anguiano of Bethune-Cookman earned Preseason Pitcher of the Year accolades.

Wright was selected the 2015 MEAC Player of the Year after leading the conference in batting (.584), on-base percentage (.752), runs batted in (49), home runs (17), walks (48), total bases (100), and slugging percentage (1.299). Also, she finished second in runs scored (40). Wright ranked first nationally in batting, walks, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and third in home runs per game, and fifth in RBI per game. This is her third MEAC Preseason Player of the Year honor.

Anguiano was selected as the 2015 MEAC Pitcher of the Year after appearing in 41 games and registering 15 wins and three shutouts in 218.0 innings pitched. A two-time MEAC Player of the Week selection last season, Anguiano ranked third in the MEAC in complete games (17), sixth in strikeouts (95), seventh in ERA (4.17) and ninth in opponents’ batting average (.307).

Delaware State, the 2015 MEAC northern division champions, finished with a 21-20 overall record and a 14-4 MEAC mark.

Hampton was selected second, followed by Norfolk State at third. Howard, Morgan State, Maryland Eastern Shore and Coppin State complete the northern division predictions.

Savannah State captured the top seed in the 2015 MEAC southern division. The Lady Tigers finished last season with a 13-1 MEAC record and a 22-17 overall mark.

Defending MEAC Softball Tournament Champions Florida A&M were picked to finish third in the southern division, with Bethune-Cookman predicted first and Savannah State chosen second. North Carolina A&T State, North Carolina Central and South Carolina State close out the southern division predictions.

Wright (SSU) and Anguiano (B-CU) are joined by Allyson Babinsack (Hampton), Sandy Hawthorne (DSU), Jessica Nathan (FAMU), Jordan Stamps (DSU), Chloe Oro (DSU), Vanessa Gomez (UMES), Nicole Gazzola (DSU), Mariah Davis (B-CU) and Amanda Hallman (SSU) on the 2016 Preseason All-MEAC team.

The 2016 Softball Championship tournament is scheduled for May 12-14, 2016 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormand Beach, Florida.

2016 MEAC Softball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish

As voted on by the Conference’s Head Softball Coaches and Sports Information Directors

(First-Place Votes In Parenthesis)

Northern Division                                                                     Southern Division                                  

2016 Softball Preseason All-MEAC Teams

As voted on by the Conference’s Head Softball Coaches and Sports Information Directors

Preseason Player of the Year: Torrian Wright, Savannah State

Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Sabrina Anguiano, Bethune-Cookman

First Team

Second Team