Softball 5/5/2026 7:30:00 PM Kevin C. Paige, MSU Athletics Communications

Morgan State Softball Places Five On All-MEAC Teams

NORFOLK, Va. (May 5, 2026)--Morgan State softball earned strong recognition from the conference, as five Bears were honored by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Senior catcher Alison Keener, juniors Millie Cousins (pitcher) and Hunter Newman (third base), and sophomore shortstop Olivia Garner were all named to the All-MEAC Second Team, while junior pitcher Serena Rodriguez earned All-MEAC Third Team honors. The selections were announced Tuesday evening during the league's pre-championship awards reception.

Maryn Jordan of Howard was named MEAC Player of the Year, while teammate Aiko Conaway was named MEAC Pitcher of the Year, and Dallas Hill of South Carolina State earned MEAC Rookie of the Year honors. Howard head Coach Tori Tyson was named MEAC Coach of the Year.

All awards were voted on by the conference's head softball coaches and sports information directors.

The five all-conference selections are the most for Morgan State since the 2024 season, when the Lady Bears placed a total of six on the All-MEAC teams.

Keener started in 32 of 35 games played and batted .284. She leads the team with 26 walks, while recording 74 at-bats, 14 runs, 21 hits, 3 doubles, 95 RBI, and 24 bases. A native of Nanticoke, Pa., Keener has 107 putouts and 17 assists from her catcher position. She finished the regular season leading the MEAC in walks and ranks seventh in on-base percentage.

A two-time MEAC Pitcher of the Week (March 9, March 30) and one-time MEAC Player of the Week (April 27), Cousins made 30 appearances in the circle, 20 starts with four complete games, and led the team with an ERA of 5.10. She led the team in wins (9), innings pitched (115.1), and strikeouts thrown (58). The Sydney, Australia native ranks second in the MEAC in innings pitched and wins, third in strikeouts, and sixth in batter strikeouts looking.

As a batter, Cousins is hitting .366 with a .535 slugging %. She started 36 of 39 games, recording 101 at-bats, 25 runs, 37 hits, 6 doubles, a triple, three home runs, 23 RBI, 54 bases, and eight walks. She finished the regular season ranked fourth in the MEAC in sacrifice flies with four, ninth in RBI, and 10^th in batting average.

Newman started all 38 games she played. She batted .325 and leads the team in doubles (10), home runs (6), total bases (66), and slugging % (.564). Newman is tied for the team lead in hits (38), second in at-bats (117), and is third in RBI (21). The New Castle, Pa., native has 17 runs, 10 walks, is 3-for-3 in stolen bases, and recorded 19 putouts and 54 assists. She ranks third in the MEAC in sacrifice flies with four, doubles (4^th), home runs (8^th), slugging percentage (10^th), hits (10^th), and at-bats (10^th).

A native of West Chester, Pa., Garner started 39 of 40 games and is batting .318. She concluded the regular season with 110 at-bats, 16 runs, 35 hits, 8 doubles, 14 RBI, 43 bases, 17 walks, and leads the team in stolen bases with 8 in 11 attempts, while recording 55 putouts and 62 assists. Garner ranks ninth in the MEAC in walks.

A two-time MEAC Pitcher of the Week selection (March 2 and May 4), Rodriguez made 36 appearances in the circle with 16 starts and eight complete games. She led the team in saves (2), recording both of the team's saves this season, is second on the team in ERA (6.47), wins (5), innings pitched (115.0), and strikeouts 55 batters. Rodriguez finished the regular season ranked second in the MEAC in innings pitched, sixth in strikeouts, and 10^th in wins.

As a batter, the Simi Valley, Calif., native started 29 of 37 games, with a batting average of .200. Rodriguez finished the regular season with 15 at-bats, 3 hits, a double, 3 RBI, 4 total bases, 1 walk, and had 21 putouts and 18 assists.

2026 All-MEAC Softball Awards
Player of the Year - Maryn Jordan, Howard
Pitcher of the Year - Aiko Conaway, Howard
Rookie of the Year - Dallas Hill, South Carolina State
Coach of the Year - Tori Tyson , Howard

First Team
P, Aiko Conaway, Howard
P, Maddy Morris, Norfolk State
1B, Cheyenne Castille, Howard
2B, Taylor Ames- Alexander, Howard
3B, Aniyah Whipper, Howard
SS, Wisdom Colbert, Howard
C, Bristyl Riddick*, Norfolk State
C, Makyia Taylor*, Howard
OF, Maryn Jordan, Howard
OF, Jamaria Charley, South Carolina State
OF, Brooklyn Tapusoa, Coppin State
RP, Julia Holt, Howard
UTL, Dallas Hill, South Carolina State

Second Team
P, Kristin White, Delaware State
P, Millie Cousins, Morgan State
1B, Maya Johnson, Norfolk State
2B, Mianna Lopez Del Haro, Delaware State
3B, Hunter Newman, Morgan State
SS, Qween Edmonds*, Norfolk State
SS, Olivia Garner*, Morgan State
C, Alison Keener, Morgan State
OF, Amirah Lenon, Howard
OF, Tyler Suttles, North Carolina Central
OF, Kailey Bryant, Norfolk State
RP, Amaya McPherson*, Norfolk State
RP, Aaryn Krebs*, South Carolina State
UTL, Maddy Morris, Norfolk State

Third Team
P, Serena Rodriguez, Morgan State
P, Kaylanie Rodriguez*, Delaware State
P, Destiny Calloway*, Howard
1B, Ellanie Yarrell, South Carolina State
2B, Emily Quintero, Coppin State
3B, Makayla Chisolm, South Carolina State
SS, Julianna Mejia, Coppin State
C, Kylie Nelson, South Carolina State
OF, Lashea Morlu, South Carolina State
OF, Daiyah Bailey, North Carolina Central
OF, Na'khia Lee, Howard
RP, Chloe Weber, Maryland Eastern Shore
UTL, Navaeh Terrell, Delaware State

* - indicates tie

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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 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.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Millie Cousins: P/2B; 5' 5"; Junior

#28 Olivia Garner: 1B/OF; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#98 Alison Keener: C; 5' 6"; Senior

#23 Hunter Newman: 3B; 5' 5"; Junior

#3 Serena Rodriguez: P/OF; 5' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#7 Millie Cousins
: 5' 5"; Junior
: P/2B

#28 Olivia Garner
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: 1B/OF

#98 Alison Keener
: 5' 6"; Senior
: C

#23 Hunter Newman
: 5' 5"; Junior
: 3B

#3 Serena Rodriguez
: 5' 6"; Junior
: P/OF