If the Florida A&M University Lady Rattlers are to return to the perch atop the MEAC softball rankings, they will have to go through the Coppin State Eagles. The Lady Rattlers, second place in the southern division, open the 2011 MEAC softball championship against CSU, who finished in third place in the MEAC northern division. The MEAC announced the pairings for the tournament on May 9, in preparation for Thursday’s start of play. Bethune-Cookman University got the top seed in the southern division, while Delaware State University got the top seed in the northern division.
The Lady Rattlers will take momentum into the tournament, after sweeping the South Carolina State University Lady Bulldogs this weekend in the final home series of the year.
Coach Veronica Wiggins is excited about the tournament. “I’m really positive about the MEAC tournament. We’re ready. The regular season has us prepared and they’re ready to give a good effort,” Wiggins said.
She added, “All of us are equal at this point. With this being the best eight in the MEAC, the team that comes to play each game will be the winner.”
The Lady Rattlers finished the 2011 season with a record of 25-24, 8-4 in the MEAC. With six players batting over .300, averaging over .500 slugging percentage, the Lady Rattlers should have plenty of firepower to propel them in the tournament.