MIAMI – Three members of the FIU softball team were honored with selection to the 2024 Conference USA Preseason All-Conference Team, which was announced by league officials on Thursday.
Sophomores
Isabella Perez and
Ella Whitney were named to the 21-member squad along with graduate transfer
Casey Goguts.
Perez, a 2023 All-CUSA First Team and All-Freshman honoree at catcher, led Conference USA and ranked 11th among national leaders in runners caught stealing with 16. She threw out 16 of 30 attempted base stealers overall (53 percent) and ranked second on the squad and 17th in CUSA with a .331 batting average during freshman campaign.
The Key West, Fla., native led FIU and ranked 28th among CUSA leaders with 22 RBI. She ripped nine doubles – second-most among league leaders and tabbed 11 multi-hit games, including three with three hits.
Whitney, a 2023 All-CUSA Second Team and All-Freshman choice at first base, enjoyed a successful rookie campaign that saw her lead the Panthers with a .349 batting average, which also ranked 10th among leaders in Conference USA.
She set an FIU record with hits in eight consecutive at bats (at Charlotte, 3/11 & La Tech, 3/17), breaking the previous mark of six, which was accomplished five times previously. Whitney totaled 19 RBI last season, which ranked 37th among CUSA leaders. She tabbed 10 extra base hits – six doubles and four home runs, while logging a .519 slugging percentage.
Goguts, a versatile player who can play at the corner infield and outfield slots, as well as catcher, spent her previous two collegiate seasons at USC Upstate where she was recognized as a 2023 Big South All-Conference First Team selection.
The 2023 season saw Goguts post a .381 batting average with five doubles, four triples, and 13 home runs. In addition, she scored 36 runs, registered 33 RBI and finished 7-for-8 on stolen base attempts.
In addition, the Panthers were slotted at No. 5 in the 2024 CUSA Preseason Coaches Poll, where they received a total of 41 points – 12 behind fourth place Louisiana Tech.
2024 CUSA Preseason Softball Poll
| Rank |
School (first-place votes) |
Total |
| 1. |
Liberty (6) |
75 |
| 2. |
WKU (1) |
66 |
| 3. |
MTSU (2) |
60 |
| 4. |
LA Tech |
53 |
| 5. |
FIU |
41 |
| 6. |
Jax State |
38 |
| 7. |
NM State |
30 |
| 8. |
Sam Houston |
26 |
| 9. |
UTEP |
16 |
CUSA Softball Preseason Player of the Year
Rachel Roupe, Liberty
CUSA Softball Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Paige Bachman, Liberty
CUSA Softball Preseason All-Conference Team
| Name |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Isabella Perez, FIU* |
So. |
C |
Key West, Fla. |
| Kendal Lunar, NM State |
So. |
C |
Alamogordo, N.M. |
| Hannah Scheaffer, Sam Houston |
Sr. |
C |
Cypress, Texas |
| Casey Goguts, FIU |
Gr. |
DP/UT |
Jupiter, Fla. |
| Anyce Harvey, MTSU |
Jr. |
DP/UT |
Trussville, Ala. |
| Lindsey Richardson, Jax State |
Sr. |
IF |
Moody, Ala. |
| Ella Whitney, FIU* |
So. |
IF |
Martinsville, Ind. |
| Claire Raley, LA Tech |
Jr. |
IF |
Clovis, Calif. |
| Rachel Craine, Liberty |
Jr. |
IF |
Middletown, Del. |
| Shelby Echols, MTSU* |
Sr. |
IF |
Pearland, Texas |
| Taylor Sanders, WKU |
Gr. |
IF |
Shelbyville, Tenn. |
| TJ Webster, WKU* |
Gr. |
IF |
Huntsville, Ala. |
| Kylie Neel, LA Tech* |
Gr. |
OF |
Richmond, Texas |
| Rachel Roupe, Liberty |
Jr. |
OF |
Sharpsburg, Md. |
| Shelby Sargent, MTSU |
Sr. |
OF |
Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
| Riley Carley, NM State |
R-Sr. |
OF |
Tucson, Ariz. |
| Jaliyah Holmes, Jax State |
So. |
P |
Sharpsburg, Ga. |
| Allie Floyd, LA Tech* |
So. |
P |
East Bernard, Texas |
| Paige Bachman, Liberty |
Jr. |
P |
Fredericksburg, Va. |
| Elena Escobar, Liberty |
Jr. |
P |
Spring Hill, Tenn. |
| Katie Gardner, WKU |
Gr. |
P |
Bowling Green, Ky. |
* - 2023 All-CUSA selection
UP NEXT
The Panthers open the 2024 campaign on Friday, Feb. 9 in a 12:30 p.m. ET start at Felsberg Field in Miami against Southeast Missouri State in the first of two games.
FIU will follow that evening with a matchup against Big Ten member Ohio State beginning at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET.
TICKETS
For more information on FIU Softball season and individual tickets, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the
FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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(@FIUSoftball), Twitter (
@FIUSoftball), and Facebook (
Facebook.com/FIUSoftball) for all the latest FIU Softball news.
