BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Junior outfielder Dakota Daniel was named to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason Second Team, the conference office announced Monday morning. The preseason polls and team selections were voted upon by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

The Madison, Alabama native slugged a .506% average last season and batted an average of .414. She totaled 36 hits and 18 runs.

The Alabama A&M softball team was selected to finish fifth in the Eastern Division. The Bulldogs finished 9-27 overall last season, including 5-19 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play, and posting wins over Alabama State, Jackson State, Tuskegee and Florida A&M.

The 2025 season features three-season opening tournaments, and 11 home games at the Bulldog Softball Field. The Bulldogs will open the season with 10 games in two tournaments and the Rocket City Softball Showcase and will highlight the season by participating in the second annual Leonard Moody HBCU Collegiate Invitational as well as the University of Texas Tournament where they will face the host team, the University of South Florida and New Mexico State. 
 

SWAC Softball Predicted Order of Finish 

East Division 

1. Jackson State- 108 points (10)  
2. Florida A&M- 88 points (5) 
3. Bethune-Cookman- 85 points (3) 
4. Alabama State- 81 points (3) 
5. Alabama A&M- 44 points (3) 
6. Mississippi Valley State- 28 points   

West Division 

1. Prairie View A&M- 107 points (14) 
2. Texas Southern- 86 points (2) 
3. Southern- 72 points (2) 
4. Grambling State- 70 points (4) 
5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 45 points 
6. Alcorn State- 39 points (2) 

* First place votes listed in parenthesis ( ) 
 
Preseason All-SWAC Softball Team and Individual Awards 
  
Preseason Player of the Year 
Mia Nunez, Prairie View A&M 

Preseason Pitcher of the Year 
Zoryana Hughes, Florida A&M  
  
Preseason First Team 
C – Karisma Garcia, Texas Southern 
1B – Brianna Duggins, Florida A&M 
2B – Alana Mark, Southern 
SS – Julie Lopez, Jackson State 
3B – Jace Jackson, Jackson State 
OF – Mia Nunez, Prairie View A&M 
OF – Paris Johnson, Texas Southern 
OF – Mari Stephens, Jackson State 
P – Zoryana Hughes, Florida A&M 
P – Kayla Adams, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 
P – Halyne Gonzalez, Bethune-Cookman 
DP – Alana Mark, Southern 
 
Preseason Second Team 
C – Thais Uyema, Bethune-Cookman 
1B – Meah Almaraz, Jackson State 
2B – Jessica Alaan, Bethune-Cookman 
SS – Briana Velazquez, Bethune-Cookman 
3B – Aniya Canty, Florida A&M 
OF – Dakota Daniel, Alabama A&M 
OF – Kamryn Broussard, Grambling State 
OF – Asia George, Southern 
P – Samantha Smith, Florida A&M 
P – Cailin Massey, Prairie View A&M 
P – Erin Gibbs, Grambling State 
DP – Brooke Ramsey, Alabama State 

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