GULFPORT, Miss. — Florida A&M shortstop
Amari Brown capped an historic individual season by earning Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors, the conference announced as part of the 2026 All-SWAC Softball Team. Brown was joined on the all-conference squads by pitcher
Zoryana Hughes (First Team) and catcher
Keeleigh Spooner (Second Team), giving the Rattlers three of the most decorated players in the SWAC's end-of-season recognition.
The trio of honorees represents the deepest All-SWAC showing in recent program history and underscores the program's continued rise under the FAMU Athletics standard of excellence.
AMARI BROWN — SWAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR | FIRST TEAM ALL-SWAC — SHORTSTOP
Brown's Player of the Year selection was a formality by season's end. The shortstop slashed .405/.468/.784 across 47 starts, finishing with 60 hits, 10 doubles, 8 triples and 10 home runs. Her 62 RBI and 47 runs scored paced FAMU's offense throughout SWAC competition, and her 1.252 OPS stood among the conference's elite marks.
Brown also showed patience at the plate, drawing 18 walks against just 11 strikeouts — a ratio that underlines her approach as a complete offensive threat rather than merely a power hitter.
In the field, Brown handled 203 total chances at shortstop — 73 putouts and 115 assists — posting a .926 fielding percentage across 47 games. Her 16 double plays turned were a testament to her range and instincts up the middle.
Brown also made three appearances in the circle, logging 48.1 innings with a 4.78 ERA, adding yet another dimension to one of the most versatile individual campaigns in program history.
Brown's 2026 Offensive Statistics
AVG / OBP / SLG: .405 / .468 / .784
OPS: 1.252
GP-GS: 47-47
Hits / At-Bats: 60-for-148
2B / 3B / HR: 10 / 8 / 10
RBI / Runs: 62 / 47
BB / K: 18 / 11
ZORYANA HUGHES — FIRST TEAM ALL-SWAC — PITCHER
Hughes delivered one of the most workmanlike pitching seasons in FAMU softball history, earning First Team All-SWAC recognition after logging 115.2 innings — by far the most among Rattler pitchers. She finished 12-4 with a 3.51 ERA, striking out 62 batters while walking 42 in 30 appearances (20 starts), and a no-hitter.
Hughes recorded seven complete games and two saves, proving she could both start and close. Her 1.47 WHIP and ability to eat innings gave FAMU's staff a workhorse anchor that few SWAC programs could match in depth or durability.
Over 115.2 innings, Hughes allowed 128 hits and 58 earned runs, holding opponents to a .274 batting average. She generated 923 outs on the season — a workload that speaks to both her endurance and her head coach's trust.
Hughes' 2026 Pitching Statistics
ERA / WHIP: 3.51 / 1.47
Record (W-L): 12-4
App / GS: 30 / 20
Complete Games / Saves: 7 / 2
IP: 115.2
H / ER: 128 / 58
BB / K: 42 / 62
Opp. AVG: .274
KEELEIGH SPOONER — SECOND TEAM ALL-SWAC — CATCHER
Behind the plate, Spooner served as the heartbeat of FAMU's battery all season. The second-team honoree hit .380 with a 1.175 OPS in 46 starts, racking up 46 hits — including 9 home runs and 9 doubles — while driving in 50 runs. Her .497 on-base percentage and 30 walks against just 11 strikeouts illustrated an elite approach at the plate for a catcher in the power slot.
Defensively, Spooner handled 135 total chances — 118 putouts and 14 assists — with a .978 fielding percentage and eight passed balls allowed across 46 games. She also managed eight passed-ball situations and threw out runners at a rate that kept opposing base runners honest.
Spooner's durability — starting all 46 games — made her indispensable to FAMU's success both offensively and as a field general directing Hughes and the rest of the pitching staff.
Spooner's 2026 Offensive Statistics
AVG / OBP / SLG: .380 / .497 / .678
OPS: 1.175
GP-GS: 46-46
Hits / At-Bats: 46-for-121
2B / HR: 9 / 9
RBI / Runs: 50 / 20
BB / K: 30 / 11
Fielding %: .978 (135 TC, 118 PO, 14 A)
