Lady Rattlers Defeat B-CU: Repeat As MEAC Champions

COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS

ORMOND BEACH, Florida -- The Florida A&M Women’s Softball team captured the program’s 11th Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title with a gutsy 2-0 victory over archrival Bethune-Cookman in the second and deciding game in the 2015 MEAC Tournament at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

FAMU (18-37) won their second straight league title, after dropping the first game to Bethune-Cookman, 2-0.

“I’m so proud of our young ladies,” a beaming FAMU head coach Veronica Wiggins said after the game. “I told them after the first game to settle down and relax, because they seemed to be intimidated going into the first game.”

The only FAMU seeming not intimidated by the tension and high drama was sophomore pitcher Kenya Pereira (15-14), who turned in two complete games Saturday in her duel with Bethune-Cookman’s Sabrina Anguiano (18-25).

Pereira, who captured her second consecutive MEAC Tournament Outstanding Performer award, pitched out of several jams during both games, but particularly in the middle and late innings of Game Two, when the Wildcats got runners aboard and into scoring position.

FAMU took 1-0 lead in bottom of the second inning of Game Two, when Alyssa Weaver’s two out single drove in Miesha McBride, who reached on a leadoff single.

In the third, FAMU made it 2-0 when Denise Anderson lofted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Jessica Nathan, who reached on an error and advanced to third on a second B-CU miscue.

Pereira worked 14 complete innings Saturday, tossing a three-hitter in Game One, while scattering five hits in Game Two, running her career record in MEAC Tournament play to 8-1.

With Saturday’s title win, FAMU also lays claim to the MEAC’s NCAA Tournament bid, their sixth automatic appearance since 1999.

The NCAA will announce first and second round pairings during their Selection Show Sunday night at 10 p.m. on ESPN.

FAMU will host a viewing party at Buffalo Wild Wings on Magnolia Street starting at 9 p.m.

TOURNAMENT NOTES: FAMU’s Veronica Wiggins was named Outstanding Tournament coach for the ninth time Saturday, and four FAMU players were named All-Tournament including Pereira, Jessica Nathan, Alexsis Sandage and Miesha McBride.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION