BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – It took exactly one season for a pair of newcomers to make their mark on the program as freshman outfielder Allyson Riches (San Diego, Calif.) and sophomore second baseman Lauryn Gross (Huntsville, Ala.) have each been named All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) First-Team selections as announced by the league on Tuesday, May 10.
 
In her first year as a collegiate player, Riches became just the fifth individual to earn All-SWAC honors as an outfielder, the first since 2016 (Imani Largin) and only the second player ever to do so on the First-Team. With the latter, she joins four-time All-SWAC outfielder, and two-time SWAC Player of the Year, Re'Quincia Mack (2006-09) as the only other individual to accomplish the feat.
 
For Gross, she becomes only the second Bulldog to earn All-SWAC recognition as primarily a second baseman, joining Tamia Lee-Barbadillo. The latter was a Second-Team selection in 2018, making Gross the first player to earn First-Team honors at the position.
 
Overall, the two selections bring the total SWAC First-Team selections in recorded program history to 26, including four from the 2004 season when only one team was selected. As a team, it marks the fourth straight season, and five of the last six, that A&M has had multiple selections. Those range from 2002-08, 2012, 2016 and 2018-22.
 
All told, there are only two seasons in the program's NCAA Division I history, excluding the 2020 COVID-19 derailed year, that the Bulldogs did not have at least one selection.
 
ALLYSON RICHES – FIRST-TEAM OUTFIELDER
Riches delivered an outstanding freshman campaign, playing in 38 games while starting all but one of those and finishing with an average of .370, on-base percentage of .440, slugging of .490, 18 runs, 10 doubles, a triple and 23 RBIs.
 
Overall, she ranks sixth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in batting average and doubles and is eighth in on-base. In terms of freshman ranks she is first in average and doubles, tied for first in RBI, second in slugging and on-base and third in hits (37). With on-base and hits, she trails Gross.
 
On the year she has produced 11 multi-hit games, a team-high five multi-RBI games (including a pair of the three-hit variety) and a 12-game hitting streak from March 19 through April 9. Riches also reached base 19 straight games from February 26 through April 15.
 
She went 7-for-14 (.500) and slugged .786 while delivering four doubles, eight RBIs and three runs scored in one game against Tennessee State and a three-game series at Jackson State to earn her first career SWAC Hitter of the Week honor on April 26.
 
LAURYN GROSS – FIRST-TEAM SECOND BASEMAN
Gross, a transfer from Wallace State Community College, exploded onto the scene in her first year at the NCAA Division I level.
 
Starting all 31 games she appeared in, the speedy infielder hit .366 (34-of-93), had an on-base percentage of .491, slugged .452 and had 29 runs, four doubles, two triples, 12 RBIs, 20 walks, three hit-by-pitch and was a stellar 21-of-23 on the basepaths.
 
In terms of SWAC rankings she is third in on-base percentage and runs, fourth in steals, fifth in walks, eighth in average, 10^th in on-base/slugging and tied for 10^th in triples (2). When it comes to steals, the three players ahead of her all had at least 12 more games played and she was just three off the walks leader in five fewer games.
 
On the year she delivered 11 multi-hit games, four multi-RBI games and ended the season with season-long nine-game hit and 13-game on-base streaks. She also had seven games with multiple steals, including three straight games with a pair each from February 12-18 and three-steal efforts against Jackson State (3/19) and Florida A&M (3/26).
 
Gross scored in 19 of her 31 games, notching a season-high three at Jackson State (4/23) and had three RBIs vs. Nicholls State.
 
2022 ALL-SWAC HONORS
Player of the Year – Kindall Deramus, Alabama State
Pitcher of the Year – Hannah Ortega, Bethune-Cookman
Newcomer of the Year – Biviana Figueroa, Prairie View
Freshman of the Year – Hannah Ortega, Bethune-Cookman
Co-Coaches of the Year – Laura Watten, Bethune-Cookman

2022 All-SWAC First-Team
C – Biviana Figueroa, Prairie View A&M
1B – Samaria Jackson, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
2B – Lauryn Gross, Alabama A&M
SS – Destiny Cuevas, Florida A&M
3B – Jaylyn Davis, Prairie View A&M
OF – Kindall Deramus, Alabama State
OF – Tevanae Tate, Texas Southern
OF – Allyson Riches, Alabama A&M
P – Hannah Ortega, Bethune-Cookman
P – Jazmine Gendorf, Texas Southern
P – Halyne Gonzales, Bethune-Cookman
DP – Tamera McKnight, Texas Southern
 
2022 All-SWAC Second-Team
C – Destinee Dixon, Alabama State
1B – Mila Rodriguez, Texas Southern
2B – India Wells, Grambling State
SS – Briana Alston, Mississippi Valley State
3B – Tyesha Cole, Alcorn State
OF – Lauren Stewart, Jackson State
OF – Jazmine Dodd, Alabama State
OF – Jaylon Davis, Mississippi Valley State
P – Chris'Deona Beasley, Florida A&M
P – Bailey Greenlee, Alabama State
P – Daisy Page, Mississippi Valley State
DP – Carson Shelby, Mississippi Valley State
 
ALABAMA A&M ALL-TIME ALL-SWAC SELECTIONS (SINCE 2000)
2022 (2 – 2/0)
Lauryn Gross, 2B, First-Team
Allyson Riches, OF, First-Team
 
2021 (2 – 2/0)
Esperanza Coe, P, First-Team#
Esperanza Coe, DP, First-Team#
#Indicates Freshman of the Year
 
2020
No Teams Selected Due to COVID-19
 
2019 (2 – 2/0)
Danielle Hansell, C, First-Team
Tamia Lee-Barbadillo SS, First-Team&
&Indicates Player of the Year
 
2018 (4 – 1/3)
Tiana Sanders, SS, First-Team
Tamia Lee-Barbadillo, 2B, Second-Team
Ariel Smith, 3B, Second-Team
Lauren Hayden, P, Second-Team
 
2017 (0 – 0/0)
N/A
 
2016 (2 – 1/1)
Tiana Sanders, SS, First-Team
Imani Largin, OF, Second-Team
 
2015 (1 – 1/0)
Anita Brit, P, First-Team
 
2014 (0 – 0/0)
N/A
 
2013 (1 – 1/0)
Jasmine Riley, 3B, First-Team
 
2012 (2 – 1/1)
Jasmine Riley, 3B, First-Team
Anita Brit, P, First-Team
 
2011 (1 – 0/1)
Jasmine Riley, 3B, Second-Team
 
2010 (1 – 1/0)
Jasmine Riley, 3B, First-Team
 
2009 (1 – 1/0)
Re'Quincia Mack, OF, First-Team&
&Indicates Player of the Year
 
2008 (4 – 2/2)
Re'Quincia Mack, OF, First-Team
Debra Borcherding, P, First-Team^
Wendy Buchholz, C, Second-Team
Brandy Harrell, 1B, Second-Team
^Indicates Pitcher of the Year
 
2007 (2 – 2/0)
Re'Quincia Mack, OF, First-Team&
Debra Borcherding, P, First-Team
&Indicates Hitter/Player of the Year
 
2006 (3 – 2/1)
Re'Quincia Mack, OF, First-Team#
Debra Borcherding, P, First-Team
LaRae Lucero, SS, Second-Team
#Indicates Freshman of the Year
*Angela Wright, Newcomer of the Year
 
2005 (3 – 1/2)
Debra Borcherding, P, First-Team
Shenna Townsend, C, Second-Team
Jessica Jackson, OF, Second-Team
 
2004 (4) – Only One Team Selected
Addie Meyers, 1B
Shenna Townsend, C
Tasha Sloan, OF&
Tawanna Carroll, OF
&Indicates East Division MVP
 
2003 (4 – 1/3)
Tasha Sloan, P, First-Team
Taryn Hartley, P, Second-Team
Addie Meyers, 1B, Second-Team
Tawanna Carroll, OF, Second-Team
*Shenna Townsend, East Division Player of the Year
*Angela Carr, East Division Offensive Player of the Year
 
2002 (2 – 0/2) – Partial
Angela Carr, SS, Second-Team
Jaime Carruthers, C, Second-Team
*Shenna Townsend, Newcomer of the Year
 
2001 (1) – Partial
Jaime Carruthers, C
 
2000 (1) – Partial
Jaime Carruthers, C
 
*Please Note That Records For 2000-02 Are Incomplete. Listed Are Those Individuals That Have Been Confirmed.