ORANGEBURG, S.C. – South Carolina State head softball coach Tonja Braxton announced Monday the addition of five student-athletes who will play for SC State.
 
Tiarra Delaney, Kaneisha Pettiford, Jada Richardson, Cecily Ruiz and Deanna Sullivan will suit up for the Lady Bulldogs this coming spring.
 
Delaney (Catcher/Bowie, Md./Bowie HS) hit .548 with 41 RBI, 11 triples, 10 doubles and four home runs while helping Bowie HS to a 17-2 record in 2014.
 
Braxton on Delaney: "Tiarra will make us much more athletic behind the plate. She's quick, has a strong arm and a good bat. She's a smart catcher who will only get better."
 
 
Pettiford (Outfielder/Rougemont, N.C./Orange HS) helped Orange HS to a 14-5 overall record and an 11-3 record in conference play for the 2014 season. In 17 games last season, she hit .412 with 27 runs, 18 RBI and six home runs.
 
Braxton on Pettiford: "Kaneisha is a solid outfielder with the potential to make a lot of things happen at the plate. We are looking for her to step in and be an everyday outfielder for us."
 
 
Richardson (Second Base/Darlington, S.C./Darlington HS) was a standout player at Darling HS. She earned all-region honors her sophomore through senior seasons and helped Darlington to the Lower State Championship title in 2010 and 2013. Richardson also played basketball for the Falcons.
 
Braxton on Richardson: "Jada is an electrifying, young infielder with really good hands. She's a small package, but she plays big."
 
 
Ruiz (Pitcher/Rialto, Calif./Redlands HS) was 1-2 in the pitching circle with a 3.69 ERA in 24.2 innings as a senior in 2014 for Redlands HS. She played her first two years of prep softball at Aquinas HS in San Bernardino, Calif. As a sophomore in 2012, Ruiz was 21-2 in 109 innings and had an ERA of 1.28 with 98 strikeouts.
 
Braxton on Ruiz: "Cecily will provide another arm in the pitcher's circle. She has solid pitching mechanics, good spins and fields her position well."
 
 
Sullivan (Utility Player/Greenville, S.C./Maudlin HS) hit .593 with a team-leading 13 home runs in 28 games last season. She worked her way into Maudlin's record books in 2014 as she became the individual record-holder in the following categories: overall season batting average (.609); batting average in playoff games (.579); and home runs in a game (3), season (10) and during playoff games (3).


Braxton on Sullivan: "Deanna has pure thunder in her bat. She plays multiple positions in the infield, but will be a huge part of our offensive arsenal in 2015."