NORFOLK, Va. (May 6, 2025)--Morgan State sophomore outfielder Amber Rivas was named to the All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) First Team, while graduate pitcher Victoria Fletcher was named to the All-MEAC Second Team as both a pitcher and utility player. It was announced Tuesday evening during the league's pre championship awards reception.
 
Taylor Ames-Alexander of South Carolina State was named MEAC Player of the Year, while Jaden Davis of North Carolina Central was named MEAC Pitcher of the Year and Lauryn Jones of Howard earned MEAC Rookie of the Year honors. Norfolk State head Coach Angie Nicholson was named MEAC Coach of the Year.
 
All awards were voted on by the conference's head softball coaches and sports information directors.
 
Rivas, who a year ago was named MEAC Rookie of the Year, started in 40 of the 43 games she played this season and shared the team lead in batting average with Fletcher at .276. She led the team in at bats (123), hits (34), runs (21), doubles (7), total bases (48), hit by pitch (3) and stolen bases with eight. Rivas would finish second in triples (2) and home runs (1), while recording 9 RBI, 6 walks and a slugging % of .390.
 
A native of West Hills, Calif., Rivas finished the regular season ranked 5^th in the MEAC in hit by pitch, 6^th in at bats, 7^th in runs scored and 9^th in triples.  
 
At the conclusion of the opening week of the 2025 season, Rivas was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team. She posted a .385 batting average, recording five hits with one double, three RBI, a run scored, a walk and two stolen bases in five games.
 
Rivas recorded an RBI, a walk and stolen base to help Morgan State defeat Notre Dame, 4-3 in the season opener. It was the program's first-ever appearance in the NFCA Leadoff Classic and its first victory over an opponent of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). She recorded her first hit of the season, which was a double and an RBI against Pittsburgh. Rivas then went 2-for-3 at the plate against Bethune-Cookman and closed out the tournament with another 2-for-3 outing with a run, RBI and stolen base in the finale against Marshall.
 
Fletcher, the former back-to-back MEAC Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024, started 42 of the 43 games she played in this season. She shared the team lead in batting average with Amber Rivas at .276 and led the Lady Bears in walks with 20 and was tied for first in homeruns (2) with Olivia Pagano. She finished second in at bats (105), hits (29), doubles (5), RBI (19) and total bases (40). Fletcher carried a .381 slugging % and a .962 fielding %. She was also 1-for-1 in stolen bases.
 
In the circle, the Huntingtown, Md. native made 30 appearances, starting 18 games with 10 complete games. Fletcher led the Lady Bears with a 2.94 ERA, wins (10), innings pitched (142.2) and strikeouts (114), while posting personal bests in innings pitched and strikeouts. Her 10 wins surpassed her previous high of nine victories during the 2023 season. Fletcher also collected a save and tallied three shutout victories.
 
She would reach double digits in strikeouts twice, including a career-high 12 strikeouts thrown in a win at UMES (3/23). She began the season pitching three innings of relief to earn a 5-4 win over Notre Dame, the program's first win over an ACC opponent.
 
As a batter, Fletcher led the MEAC during the regular season in walks and sacrifice flies, while ranking 10^th in RBI. In the circle she is 2^nd in batter struck out, 3^rd in innings pitched, 3^rd in wins, 4^th in batters struck out looking, 5^th in ERA and 7^th in saves.
 
2025 All-MEAC Softball Awards 
Player of the Year - Taylor Ames-Alexander, S.C. State 
Pitcher of the Year - Jaden Davis, N.C. Central 
Rookie of the Year - Lauryn Jones, Howard 
Coach of the Year - Angie Nicholson, Norfolk State 
 
First Team 
P, Julia Holt, Howard  
P, Jaden Davis, N.C. Central 
1B, Alyssa Vasquez, Howard 
2B, Lealani Ricks, Howard 
3B, Kenna Higa, Howard 
SS, Sidney Fletcher *, Howard 
SS, Taylor Ames-Alexander *, S.C. State 
C, Merci Hart, Howard 
OF, Lauryn Jones, Howard 
OF, Amber Rivas, Morgan State 
OF, Jamaria Charley, S.C. State 
RP, Mia Gonzales, Howard 
UTL, Ameenah Ballenger, Howard 
 
Second Team 
P, Kristin White, Delaware State  
P, Victoria Fletcher, Morgan State 
1B, Maya Jonhson, Norfolk State 
2B, Taylor Ames-Alexander, S.C. State 
3B, Kira Turner, Norfolk State 
SS, Qween Edmonds, Norfolk State 
C, Paige Perkins, Maryland Eastern Shore 
OF, Aniyah Haley, Coppin State  
OF, Angel Riggins, Howard  
OF, Kailey Bryant, Norfolk State 
RP, Brierra Tyler, Norfolk State 
UTL, Victoria Fletcher, Morgan State 
 
Third Team 
P, Amaya McPherson, Norfolk State 
P, Destiny Calloway, S.C. State 
1B, Takia Nichols, N.C. Central 
2B, Makiya Graves, N.C. Central 
3B, Julianna Mejia, Coppin State 
SS, Clarke Calvin, Maryland Eastern Shore 
C, Xzylia Maravilla, Coppin State 
OF, Payton Quinonez, Howard 
OF, Jaycee Holt, Maryland Eastern Shore  
OF, Tyler Suttles, N.C. Central 
RP, Simone Mack, N.C. Central 
UTL, Madison Boyd, S.C. State 
 
* - indicates tie 
 

FOLLOW US IN CYBERSPACE 
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more. 
• Follow us on social media:
            Facebook: /MorganStateBears
            Twitter: @MorganStBears
            Instagram: /MorganStateBears
 
ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 126 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.