Softball | 4/21/2025 1:12:18 PM
NORFOLK, Va., April 21, 2025 – South Carolina State senior Taylor Ames-Alexander has been named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Player of the Week. Howard rookie Lauryn Jones was named Rookie of the Week while Howard's Ameenah Ballenger and Delaware State's Kristin White were named Co-Pitchers of the Week.
Ames-Alexander (Sr., INF, Lancaster, SC) recorded a .667 batting average going 8-of-12 at the plate helping the Bulldogs sweep the series against Maryland Eastern Shore. She tallied six runs with six RBI while hitting one double, two triples and two homeruns, adding nine putouts and eight assists. In the opening game of the series, Ames-Alexander blasted a triple and a homerun as her two hits in the game. She followed with three hits in game two, coming up a double shy of completing the cycle of a single, double, triple and homerun in the same game. She ended the series with three hits including a double in the 5-4 win with two runs scored and an RBI.
Jones (Fr., INF, Denton, Texas) registered five runs on four hits in eight at-bats while helping the Bison to a 4-0 week. Jones recorded two RBI, five runs, one homerun, three stolen bases and four putouts in four games. In the series finale against Coppin State, she scored three runs with two stolen bases and two putouts. Jones registered her first collegiate homerun in the series finale against Morgan State aiding the Bison in an 11-0 win.
Ballenger (Gr., P, Lansdown, Pa.) pitched a complete game five-inning no-hitter surrendering no runs in the series finale against Coppin State. She tallied six strikeouts in 17 batters faced. The no-hitter was the first by a Howard pitcher since 2022.
White (So., P, Crofton, Md.) pitched a complete-game shutout to open the series against North Carolina Central surrendering four hits while striking out eight batters.
Other Top Performers
- Kaylanie Rodriguez (Delaware State) pitched 8.0 innings including a complete game to close the series surrendering one run on five hits with five strikeouts.
- Annalisse Sanatana (Delaware State) recorded a .375 batting average (3-of-8) with one run scored, three RBI and two doubles while adding six putouts and two assists.
- Kenna Higa (Howard) registered a .500 batting average (6-of-12) scoring five runs with four RBI, two doubles, two homeruns and one stolen base in the series sweep over Morgan State.
- Clarke Calvin (Maryland Eastern Shore) registered four runs and four RBI going 7-of-15 from the plate (.467) while hitting one double and one triple with one stolen base and six putouts.
- Jaycee Holt (Maryland Eastern Shore) went 7-for-18 at the plate (.389) with two RBI, one double, and four stolen bases, while scoring seven runs and recording 12 putouts over the week.
- Kassidy Oneail (Maryland Eastern Shore) threw 21.0 innings over five games surrendering 12 earned runs on 26 hits for a 4.00 ERA while striking out 15 batters.
- Kailey Bryant (Norfolk State) went 2-of-9 at the plate with two runs, two RBI, one double and three stolen bases while also pitching six innings in the second game of the series giving up one run on two hits with four strikeouts.
- Qween Edmonds (Norfolk State) registered a .636 batting average going 7-of-11 at the plate with one triple, one home run, five runs scored and four RBI. She added one stolen base, five putouts and five assists in the weekend sweep of Coppin State.
- Amaya McPherson (Norfolk State) pitched 6.2 innings including a five-inning one-hit shutout against Coppin State in the first game of the series while striking out six batters on the weekend.
- Daiyah Bailey (North Carolina Central) went 3-of-8 at the plate (.375) with one double, one run and one RBI while also recording one stolen base.
- Jaden Davis (North Carolina Central) threw 13.0 innings including a 1-0 complete game victory in the circle against Delaware State. She collected a with a 2.15 ERA, surrendering four earned runs on 10 hits while striking out 11 batters including eight in the series finale against DSU.
- Makiya Graves (North Carolina Central) hit .444 at the plate going 4-of-9 with one run, two RBI, one triple and two stolen bases. She added four putouts and six assists in a 1-2 week for the Eagles.
- Destiny Calloway (SC State) threw five innings surrendering no earned runs on two hits with two strikeouts.