HIALEAH, Fla. (May 9, 2024) – Florida National University’s softball team (23-22) had two freshman right-handed pitchers take home Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year from the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC). The Conquistadors also had seven other players land either a First Team or Second Team All-CAC nomination.
Florida native and 2024 Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Softball All-Tournament Team member Sophia White earned Newcomer of the Year while Brylea Rusler shared the Freshman of the Year award with Georgia Gwinnett College’s Morgan McQuagge.
“Rusler had an 8-2 record and 2.46 ERA after starting 12 of her 16 pitching appearances. The freshman had 58 strikeouts in 85.1 innings,” said the CAC’s release.
“White was a dual-threat player for FNU. In the pitching circle, she had a 2.44 ERA and posted eight wins across a staff-best 103.1 innings in 21 appearances. Meanwhile, at the plate, the freshman batted .287 with four doubles and had 13 runs batted in.”
Both pitchers also earned a place on the CAC’s First Team along with Bianca Bartow, Janessa Esquibel, Yleisha Perez, Sabrina Castelli, and Ana De Oliveira Obando. Bartow took over catching duties for the majority of the second half of the season, recording 36 appearances and a team-high 136 putouts. Esquibel and Perez were excellent from the batter’s box, as Esquibel posted a .353 average. Perez posted 35 hits and 22 RBIs.
Castelli was the most reliable bat for FNU in 2024, crushing timely hits with a .379 batting average and 44 impressive hits for the outfielder. Senior Obando was just as spectacular with a team-leading four home runs to go along with a .324 average.
Champion of Character Alyssa Songer joined freshman Madison Sanchez as All-CAC Second Team members. Songer was a highlight reel at centerfield, recording 92 putouts, no errors and 22 hits this season. Sanchez had a great start to her FNU career, with 10 hits and four RBIs in 21 games.
For more on the CAC, click here.
