TULSA, Okla. – With a 13-2 victory over Tulsa in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader, the No. 24 Florida Atlantic softball team has clinched the American Athletic Conference regular season championship for the second consecutive season. 

The Owls (42-9, 21-4) will have the No. 1 overall seed in the AAC Tournament, taking place at USF Softball Stadium in Tampa from May 7 – 10. With the double bye secured, the Owls first game comes Friday, May 9, in the championship semifinal. 

Under third-year head coach Jordan Clark, Florida Atlantic’s softball program won the school’s first AAC title in any sport with last year’s regular season title. It also marks FAU’s first back-to-back regular season titles in any sport since women’s soccer in 2018 and 2019 (CUSA).

The regular season crown is the softball’s program’s 13^th all-time, which leads all Owl sports.

A full recap of Saturday’s games will be posted following the conclusion of the doubleheader’s second matchup. 

The Owls’ 2025 postseason is powered by Demand the Limits Injury Attorneys. Visit demandthelimits.com for more information.

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BRONX, N.Y. – Splitting a doubleheader on the penultimate day of the regular season, Fordham University Softball fell 3-2, in eight innings before a 6-0 over Rhode Island in game two Saturday afternoon.

Allie Clark singled to drive in a run and came home to score herself in the top of the third on a Sydney Wells triple to put the Rams up 2-0. Rhode Island rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, before a single down the line in extra innings saw the home side take the opener in eight innings.

Despite the loss Holly Beeman gave up just a single earned run while striking out five, with both Fordham pitchers going the distance, as Emilee Watkins tossed the full seven innings in game two for her eighth win of the season.

With seven different Rams recording a hit in game two, the Maroon and White got on the board with a two-run home run in the fifth, as Wells broke a scoreless tie with her 16th long-ball of the year, before a double down the line by Mikayla Swan in the sixth put the visiting Rams up by three. The rally would not stop there as Eva Koratsis, Kate McGuire, and Mallory McClellan each brought a run home in the seventh to help see out a 6-0 victory to split the doubleheader.

Despite already locking up a playoff spot the Rams will look to improve their postseason seeding in the regular season finale at Rhode Island tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 p.m. in Kingston, R.I. on ESPN+.

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Donald Trump and Nick Saban may have devised a massive change that impact NIL deals in college sports

NIL deals have completely changed the landscape of college sports, and the way teams and players are using these deals to their advantage is still evolving. In the eyes of some folks, these NIL deals are being exploited, simply because there is no true structure in place when it comes to regulating them. After meeting with Nick Saban, the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, could change that.

Saban enjoyed a legendary head coaching career with the Alabama Crimson Tide, winning six National Championships during his 17 seasons with the team. Saban opted to retire after the 2023 campaign, though, which is right around when NIL deals began to become more popular. According to Saban, one of the reasons he decided to step down the Crimson Tide’s head coaching position was because he saw where things were going with these NIL deals.

Donald Trump Could Make Big Changes to NIL Deals After Nick Saban Meeting

NIL deals allow college athletes to profit off the use of their name, image, and likeness while playing for their respective schools. Whether they are getting money from their school or through various companies and partnership deals, the top college athletes in the world have suddenly found themselves with an opportunity to earn millions of dollars before they even turn pro.

Without any regulations in place to control what can and can’t be done, teams and players are running buck wild when it comes to these NIL deals. The top schools in the nation, particularly in college football, are allotting millions of dollars to creating NIL deals for athletes they are looking to recruit or retain. Players, on the other hand, are looking to leverage these NIL deals in their favor and earn as much money as they can while they are in college.

Saban, who now works as an analyst for ESPN’s “College GameDay,” is one person who understands that the current utilization of NIL deals is unsustainable. After voicing his concerns to Trump, the President is reportedly considering implementing an executive order that would have a massive impact on the use of NIL deals in college sports.

“The Trump administration is considering an executive order that could increase scrutiny of the explosion in payments to college athletes since 2021, after the president met with former Alabama coach Nick Saban, White House officials said,” Josh Dawsey wrote for The Wall Street Journal.

Nick Saban Gearing up for 2025 Campaign with ‘College Gameday’

GettyFormer Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban

Saban enjoyed a successful transition into the world of sports media in 2024, as his work on “College GameDay” was largely met with positive reviews. Saban is fresh off doing work with the “College GameDay” crew during the 2025 NFL draft, and he’s now gearing up for the 2025 campaign, as he’s set to remain a part of the team moving forward.

However, Saban could suddenly find himself having a big role in determining potential rules and regulations for NIL deals if Trump moves forward with this executive order. As a result, this is a storyline worth keeping tabs on as the new college football season draws near.

Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. He recently received his Masters in Business Administration from Nichols College. Previously, he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management and for a while ran his own sports website. Sports are his passion, and he thoroughly enjoys writing about thoughts and opinions that are related to the game. He has been a lifelong fan of the major professional teams in Boston and loves discussing all topics surrounding those teams. More about Owen Crisafulli

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Wichita State got back in the win column Saturday afternoon with a 5-2 win over Memphis to even the series.

Wichita State (27-24-1, 14-11-1) will look to secure another series win on Sunday in the finale. With a win Sunday they would clinch their fifth consecutive series and seventh of the season.

Eight of the nine Shockers in the lineup recorded a hit, led by Lauren Lucas, Taylor Sedlacek and Krystin Nelson with two apiece. Sedlacek added a double and an RBI. Her 16 doubles this season are now tied for third most in a single season. Jodie Epperson drove in two runs on a first inning double.

Ellee Eck stole her 22nd base of the season, moving her into a tie for third on the single season list, just three shy of tying the school record.

Ava Sliger (7-6) tossed the second 7-inning, complete game of her career to earn the win. She allowed two runs on seven hits, no walks and three strikeouts.

In the top of the first, Wichita State put early pressure on the Tigers with back-to-back singles from Lucas and Sedlacek. The Shockers turned those hits into a pair of runs on Epperson’s double down the right field line.

Nelson made it 3-0 in the top of the second on an RBI single after Brookelyn Livanec led off with a single and moved up to second on Sami Hood’s sac bunt.

The Tigers responded with two runs of their own in the home half of the second on a trio of singles, a sac bunt and a sac fly.

Wichita State got those two runs back in the fourth on a Sedlacek RBI double and Camryn Compton RBI fielder’s choice. After four innings, Wichita State led 5-2.

Up Next

Wichita State and Memphis wrap up the regular season Sunday with first pitch at Noon on ESPN+.

 

The excitement was palpable among the children in line anxiously waiting to check in for Rocco Becht’s football camp at Ankeny High School on May 3.

Others raced to put on their official camp T-shirt and release their jitters by having a catch with friends and parents.

Once the Iowa State quarterback arrived at the field, there was a hush among the crowd. Many sets of young eyes watched the Cyclones’ QB1 closely with both curiosity and awe.

But once they were divided into groups and stations, they were eager to show Becht and their peers what they can do.

“Obviously, last year I had a camp at Perry, but this is different,” Becht said. “A lot of kids came out here today, a lot of local coaches came out here to help me, which is awesome, and I’m happy to give back today for these kids and work on their skills. Hopefully they have a good camp and it’s worth their time.”

Camp participants, who ranged from 6- to 16-years old, were divided into groups based on grade and age.

They participated in drills to refine their skills in nearly every aspect of the sport, from footwork, catching, passing, tackling, and pushing sleds.

Campers had their eye on Becht’s station, where they got to compete in a scrimmage with hopes to catch a touchdown pass from Becht, or maybe even pick him off.

“He’s always been a giver,” his mother, DeeAnn Becht, told the Register back in October. “He doesn’t expect anything back ever. He never has, but he loves to give.”

While there has been plenty of discourse by fans and media surrounding the impact of NIL on college athletics, not all of the conversation has to be negative.

Becht has used some of his NIL to be a positive presence in the local community.

Last year, he organized a free football camp for approximately 100 middle-school aged kids at Perry High School. The idea was to help the Perry community after a deadly school shooting in January 2024. He also donated $7,500 of his NIL money to the Perry youth football program.

In April, he donated new Xbox Series X consoles, along with select video games, to every pediatric room at the Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames.

His May 3 camp is the latest to help the youth and possibly even inspire a future Cyclone football player.

At the very least, the kids in attendance will have some cool stories to share at the lunch table next week and perhaps some memories to last a long time.

“For me, growing up, I went to a lot of camps, a lot of youth football camps,” Becht said. “My dad actually put a lot on and I enjoyed it. He taught me a lot, from how he would run the camps and I kind of wanted to do the same thing. I’m able to do that now with all this NIL stuff going on, so I’m happy to be out here.

“It’s the best thing (giving back). I don’t think there’s any other way as an athlete to go about it. We had a great turnout today and I’m excited for all these kids to show me what they got. … (My dad) just said enjoy it, let the kids be kids and let them have fun.”

Iowa State football: Quarterback Rocco Becht on football camp for kids

Iowa State football quarterback Rocco Becht shared why he wanted to give back to kids and have football camp in Ankeny on May 3, 2025.

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht stats

Last season, Becht completed 59.4% of pass attempts for 3,505 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also ran for 318 yards and eight touchdowns on 98 carries.

Becht ranks among the top five in program history in a variety of single-season and career passing categories, including an active record of 18 straight games with at least one touchdown pass and the single-game record of 446 passing yards, which he set in the 2023 Liberty Bowl.

The 6-foot-1 quarterback also led Iowa State to a program-best 11-3 record last season and was named MVP of the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.

BOONE, N.C. – The Coastal Carolina softball team defeated Appalachian State 9-6 to close out the regular season Saturday afternoon in Boone, N.C.

The Mountaineers scored first in the bottom of the third inning when Leah Gore hit an RBI single through the left side to give App State a 1-0 lead.

Coastal responded in the top of the fourth when Libby Pippin singled and Delaney Keith drew a walk, setting up Georgia Hood to clear the bases with a three-run home run over the left-center field wall to make it 3-1.

App State tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as Summer Simpson and Makayla McClain hit back-to-back home runs to level the score at 3-3.

The Chanticleers broke the game open in the top of the sixth. Hood belted her second home run of the day, followed by a Maddy Jennings homer, a Pippin double, and a Keith single that combined for five more runs and a 9-3 Coastal advantage.

In the bottom of the seventh, McClain completed the cycle with a triple. Macy Hamby and Gore then hit back-to-back home runs to cut the deficit to 9-6, but Abby Henderson entered the circle and secured the final out to preserve the win.

With the victory, Nicolette Picone improved to 24-9 on the season, allowing six runs on 10 hits over 6.2 innings of word.

The Chanticleers will return to action at the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Tournament, set for May 7-10 in Troy, Ala.

For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (X), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at GoCCUSports.com.