GULFPORT, Miss. –– Florida A&M softball had its best regular season in years and it showed as the Rattlers led the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) with nine season honors.

The Rattlers had four earn individual awards, led by freshman Zoryana Hughes, who was named the Pitcher and Co-Freshman of the Year. Newcomer Samantha Smith was named the Newcomer of the Year, and second year head coach Camise Patterson was named the Co-Coach of the Year.

The Rattlers tied with Prairie View A&M with five players named to the All-SWAC teams as the Rattlers had Amaya Gainer (shortstop) and Zoryana Hughes (pitcher) named to the first team, and Nyah Morgan (catcher), Brianna Duggins (first base), and Mia Blasingane (outfielder) named to the second team.

Zoryana Hughes | Pitcher of the Year, Co-Freshman of the Year, All-SWAC First Team
True freshman Zoryana Hughes was the top pitcher for the Rattlers and the most winningest in the SWAC, as Hughes had the most overall wins with 13 and the most SWAC wins with 11. Hughes only had three losses for the whole season and one loss in SWAC play. Hughes had a SWAC ERA of 0.94 and an opponent batting average of .219. Hughes had 94 strikeouts, including a season-high ten versus Mercer. Hughes had 5+ strikeouts in ten games. Hughes also had two complete game shutouts and had two saves. Hughes received SWAC honors four times this season.

Samantha Smith | Newcomer of the Year
Samantha Smith was the Rattlers' most versatile player, as she was one of the best hitters and pitchers on the team. Smith was seventh on the team with 21 hits and had the second-most RBIs with 22. Smith's 22 RBIs ranked 15th in the league. In SWAC play, Smith had the 8th-best slugging percentage with a .619. As a pitcher, Smith has the fourth most wins in SWAC play with seven and seventh most overall with 9. Smith also has the third-best opponent batting average with a .188. Smith added 43 strikeouts and had the ninth-best ERA in SWAC play with a 2.66. Smith was also named both hitter and co-pitcher of the week on March 12.

Camise Patterson | Co-Coach of the Year
Camise Patterson did an amazing job turning the team around in her second, improving their record from 20-24, 13-11 to 23-18, 19-5, and a first-place finish in the SWAC East. From a hitting standpoint, the Rattlers ranked first in batting average (.312), second in on-base percentage (.369), second in slugging percentage (.404), and third in hits (335). From a pitching standpoint, the Rattlers dominated SWAC play, ranking first in ERA (1.79), earned runs (38), and opponent batting average (.213). The Rattlers also ranked second in shutouts (6) and hits allowed (117). Patterson also saw her players earn SWAC honors ten times this season. Patterson coached the league's top pitcher in true freshman Zoryana Hughes, who led the SWAC in wins.

Amaya Gainer | All-SWAC First Team
Amaya Gainer was the Rattlers' second-best hitter, finishing the season with 35 hits and had the second-most runs with 23. Gainer ranked in the top 20 in the SWAC in hits, runs scored, and batting average. Gainer also drove in 16 runs and had a .419 slugging percentage and a .381 on-base percentage. Gainer had ten multi-hit games and converted six double plays.

Nyah Morgan | All-SWAC Second Team
Nyah Morgan was one of the Rattlers' top hitters this season, finishing the season with 29 hits and leading the Rattlers with 25 RBIs, the 13th most in the SWAC (SWAC play 22 RBIs, 8th). Morgan excelled at extra base hits leading the team with 11 (7 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run). Morgan also had an on-base percentage of .420, slugging percentage of .517, and scored 16 runs. Morgan also caught ten runners stealing this season. Morgan had five multi-RBI games and a season-high four RBIs versus Alabama State. Morgan also earned two SWAC Hitter of the Week honors.

Brianna Duggins | All-SWAC Second Team
Brianna Duggins was fifth on the team with 26 hits, added 14 RBIs, and scored 11 runs. Duggins had eight extra-base hits (five doubles and three triples). Duggins also had six multi-hit games. Duggins contributed to 247 putouts and four double plays.

Mia Blasingane | All-SWAC Second Team
Mia Blasingane finished fourth on the team with 28 hits and 18 runs. Blasingane ranked 11th in the SWAC with a .370 batting average. During SWAC play, Blasingane had the third-best batting average (.481), eighth-base percentage (.500), and ranked top-20 in runs scored and hits. Blasingane had eight multi-hit games.

2024 All-SWAC Softball Team and Individual Awards
Player of the Year
Mia Nunez, Prairie View A&M
 
Hitter of the Year
Biviana Figueroa, Prairie View A&M
 
Pitcher of the Year
Zoryana Hughes, Florida A&M 
 
Newcomer of the Year
Samantha Smith, Florida A&M
 
Co-Freshman of the Year
Kayla Adams, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
 
Co-Freshman of the Year
Zoryana Hughes, Florida A&M 
 
Co-Coach of the Year
Vernon Bland, Prairie View A&M
 
Co-Coach of the Year
Camise Patterson, Florida A&M
 
First Team
C – Biviana Figueroa, Prairie View A&M
1B – Ciera Clark, Bethune-Cookman
2B – Jaeda Gardner, Alabama State 
SS – Amaya Gainer, Florida A&M
3B – Jaylyn Davis, Prairie View A&M
OF – Kindall DeRamus, Alabama State 
OF – Kendall Smiley, Alabama State
OF – Mia Nunez, Prairie View A&M
P – Kayla Adams, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
P – Zoryana Hughes, Florida A&M 
P – Breanna Reyna, Prairie View A&M
DP – Alana Mark, Southern
 
Second Team
C – Nyah Morgan, Florida A&M
1B – Brianna Duggins, Florida A&M
2B – Alana Mark, Southern
SS – Julie Lopez, Jackson State
3B – Jace Jackson, Jackson State 
OF – Mia Blasingane, Florida A&M 
OF – Audrey Garcia, Prairie View A&M
OF – Paris Johnson, Texas Southern 
P – Maren Berger, Texas Southern 
P – Halyne Gonzalez, Bethune-Cookman
P – Madalynn Gonzales, Texas Southern 
DP – Brooke Ramsey, Alabama State
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