TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | The Florida A&M University softball team returns to action this weekend and will play in five games at the USF Tourney, hosted by the University of South Florida, at the USF Softball Stadium in Clearwater, Fla.
 
SOFTBALL AT THE MOMENT
> Florida A&M is 2-12 during the young season, after winning two-of-three games at the Mississippi Valley State Legends Classic in Itta Bena, Miss. last weekend.
> The Lady Rattlers have opened the season with six games against four Top 25 teams: #5 Florida State, #8 Florida, and two games each against #6 LSU and #13 Oklahoma State.
> This week's USF Tournament in Clearwater is the fourth weekender FAMU has appeared in this season, and they have one final weekend set, hosted by Mercer University in Macon, Ga., next weekend.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT
FAMU won two-of-three games in the Mississippi Valley State (MVSU) Legends Softball Classic, ending an 11-game season-opening slide in the process
> The Lady Rattlers are coming off a 9-3 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and 2-1 victory over Mississippi Valley State on Feb. 29
> Florida A&M dropped the final game of the tournament, 7-1, to Tennessee State
> FAMU was slated to have Fan Day on Wednesday against Holy Cross, but inclement weather forced the postponement of that game
> Fan Day will now be held on Sunday, March 29 when the Lady Rattlers play host to Maryland Eastern Shore
 
FAMU'S LEADING LADIES
This year's FAMU team is an interesting mix of new faces and returning veterans. Many first-year players have been pressed into service due to some players recovering from off-season injuries.
 
> Among the freshest faces in the Orange and Green are freshman outfielder Melkayla Irvis (.235, 8 RBIs, one homer, one double, one triple); freshman infielder Destiny Cuevas (.286, 8 hits, a triple); freshman pitcher Nadia Zenteno (1-1, 5.83 ERA, 34.0 IP, 9 appearances, 4 complete games, including a six-hit, 2-1 loss to Florida); JUCO transfer Gabriella Williams (23 innings, 5 appearances, 6 strikeouts).
> Returning veterans of note so far include senior centerfielder Jamesia Stoudemire (.295, 13 hits, 7 runs, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 3 RBIs); senior catcher Alexis Blasingane (.200, HR, 4 RBIs); junior infielder Hera Varmah (a double, a triple, an RBI); senior pitcher Kyaira Brown (1-0, 0.75 ERA, 9.1 innings, 4 Ks).
 
WHO'S ON DECK
The three-day USF Softball Tournament at USF Stadium in Clearwater, Fla., begins at noon against Army, followed by a 2:30 p.m. game against Providence. On Saturday, the Lady Rattlers face Seton Hall at 11:30 a.m., and Western Michigan at 2 p.m. Florida A&M ends the weekend with a 2 p.m. game against UT-Chattanooga. 
 
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