Courtesy of Grambling State Athletics

The Grambling State University softball team placed two student-athletes on the 2023 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) All-Conference teams, announced by the conference on Monday night.

Cadashia Collins was named the SWAC Freshman of the Year and landed on the first team, while pitcher Dacia Richard nabbed second-team honors.

Grambling State earned the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) West Division No. 2 seed in the 2023 SWAC Softball Tournament and opens play versus Florida A&M, the No. 3 seed from the East Division today at 12 p.m.

The double-elimination tournament is being held at the Gulfport Sportsplex in Gulfport, Miss. and runs through the championship game on May 12.

GSU earned the No. 2 seed after finishing the regular season with a 30-20-1 overall record and a 15-9 mark in SWAC play. It marked the first time that the GSU softball program achieved at least 30 wins since the 2001 season.

This is also the highest that the Tigers have been seeded in the SWAC Softball Tournament since earning the No. 2 seeding in 2009.

Collins, a freshman shortstop from Chattanooga, Tenn., had a breakout season and was one of the key contributors for Grambling State’s offense as a true freshman. She contributed a batting average of .310 with 46 RBI, 14 doubles, three triples, one home run and 35 runs scored. Her 46 RBI ranks second in the league. Collins’ 15 doubles is also the most in the conference while she also contributed ten stolen bases to go along with a fielding percentage of .945.

Richard was one of the strongest pitchers in the conference this season. She amassed double-digit victories, sporting a record of 10-5 with an ERA of 3.25. Her 10 wins ranked third in the SWAC, and her ERA placed her seventh in the conference. She was also third in the conference in strikeouts, racking up 76 Ks. Richard limited opposing hitters to a .222 average, which was second-best in the SWAC.