Following the conclusion of LSU softball’s season in the Stanford Super Regional, two stars from the squad have signed with the same professional softball team.
Both [autotag]Ali Newland[/autotag] and [autotag]Taylor Pleasants[/autotag] inked deals with the Florida Vibe of the AFP (Association of Fastpitch Professionals). The Vibe are one of four teams in the independent softball league.
Pleasants was a 2021 All-American and three-time All-SEC selection, finishing her career with a .311 batting average. She ranks No. 3 all-time in program history with 217 RBIs, No. 4 with 47 home runs and No. 8 with a .570 slugging percentage.
She also holds the program record with 59 double-plays and ranks second in assists with 520.
The 2024 Florida VIBE has selected & SIGNED, @ali44newland, OF, from @LSUsoftball!
Ali, an all @SEC player offensively & defensively, hit .304, 9 Hr, 41 RBIs & seemed like on @SportsCenter every night with a gem!
Welcome to Florida, now a PRO, ALI NEWLAND #44 pic.twitter.com/av4TEtmka2
— FLORIDA VIBE (@vibesoftball) June 6, 2024
The 2024 Florida VIBE has selected & SIGNED, @Tpleasants17, INF, from @LSUsoftball!
Taylor, A very decorated athlete with multiple awards from @NFCAorg @NCAASoftball @SEC. A🥇for @USASoftball 2019, 2022.
Welcome to Florida, now a PRO, TAYLOR PLEASANTS #17 pic.twitter.com/IYXA85Cbqo
— FLORIDA VIBE (@vibesoftball) June 5, 2024
Newland, meanwhile, was a one-time First-Team All-SEC selection and finished her career with a .289 batting average to go with 166 hits, 122 RBIs, 104 runs and 25 homers. She had a perfect fielding percentage this season and was named the 2024 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, just the second Tiger to earn that distinction.
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