Nakeya Hall Named SWAC Coach of the Year, Four Lady Bulldogs Earn All-SWAC Honors

Softball 5/7/2018 11:31:00 AM aamusportsinfo

Nakeya Hall Named SWAC Coach of the Year, Four Lady Bulldogs Earn All-SWAC Honors

BIRMINGHAM--- The Alabama A&M softball team totaled four All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selections plus the SWAC Conference Coach of the Year in AAMU head softball coach Nakeya Hall as announced by the league on Monday (May 7) morning. The team (21-18, 11-7 SWAC) ended the regular season as the SWAC East Division Co-Champs with Alcorn State.

Tiana Sanders was All-SWAC Conference First Team selection with Tamia Lee-Barbadillo, Ariel Smith and Lauren Hayden All-SWAC Conference Second Team picks.

Hall was selected as the SWAC Conference Coach of the Year after the Lady Bulldogs to its first 20-win season of the decade. Under Hall's guidance, the Lady Bulldogs won a share of the Eastern Division title and not only set a new benchmark in wins under her tenure (21), but the team also boasted arguably the top offense in the league. Alabama A&M leads the SWAC in batting average (.297), home runs (29), RBI (203) and team slugging percentage (.452). The Lady Bulldogs also ranked third in fielding percentage at .932.

Sanders was named All-SWAC Conference First Team at shortstop. The senior from Shelbyville, Tennessee was the top power hitter in the SWAC with a league-best 95 total bases, 52 hits, 42 RBI and 11 home runs. She also ranked in top five in the league in average at .423, 34 runs scored, 10 doubles. Sanders also leads the league on the field with a slugging percentage .772. She was stellar defensively with a .898 fielding percentage. The senior started in 39 games during the regular season.

Smith earned All-SWAC Conference Second Team honors at third base. The senior from Huntsville, Alabama provided power with six home runs and 26 RBI during the regular season. Appearing in 40 games, Smith hit .298 with 31 hits and seven doubles. She registered a .425 on-base percentage and slugged .538.

Barbadillo garnered All-SWAC Conference Second Team honors as second baseman. The sophomore from Antioch, California was outstanding on second base during the regular season with a .948 fielding percentage in all 40 games. At the plate, Barbadillo totaled a .371 average with 46 hits, including 11 doubles, six home runs and two triples. A strong baserunner, the sophomore totaled nine steals to lead the team.

Hayden was named All-SWAC Conference Second Team as a pitcher. In the circle, Hayden posted a .353 earned run average and ranked seventh in the SWAC. She went 10-4 in 20 appearances with 16 starts. In 105 innings pitched, she registered 85 strikeouts and opponents hit only .274.

The Lady Bulldogs make their appearance in the SWAC Conference Tournament on Wednesday (May 9) at 9 a.m. against Prairie View A&M in Montgomery, Ala.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Tamia Lee-Barbadillo: MIF; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#12 Ariel Smith: 3B; 5' 7"; Senior

#30 Lauren Hayden: P; 5' 6"; Freshman

#20 Tiana Sanders: SS; 5' 6"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#8 Tamia Lee-Barbadillo
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: MIF

#12 Ariel Smith
: 5' 7"; Senior
: 3B

#30 Lauren Hayden
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: P

#20 Tiana Sanders
: 5' 6"; Senior
: SS