Southern softball wanted to achieve something it hadn’t done since 2003: win a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.
Florida A&M thwarted that opportunity with a walk-off RBI single by pinch-hitter Braxtyn Battle. The sophomore’s bloop single came with runners on first and second and one out.
No. 2-seeded Southern (37-15, 18-6 SWAC) fell 2-1 to No. 1 Florida A&M (32-20, 19-5) on Saturday at the Gulfport Sportsplex in Mississippi. This was the Rattlers’ first SWAC championship after falling short to Jackson State last year in the title game. Southern’s appearance in the title game was its first since 2009.
“They fought. We didn't hit, you know,” Southern coach Brittney Williams said. “At the end of the day, they gave it all they had, just didn't fall our way.”
The Jaguars played FAMU three times in the SWAC Tournament. It forced an if-necessary game after winning 8-0 in five innings on Friday night, following multiple weather delays. The Rattlers beat Southern 5-4 in 11 innings in the first meeting on Wednesday.
Williams said she’ll remember this season fondly because of how much growth the team showed after going 22-24 overall and 13-11 in the SWAC a season ago.
“The season was excellent,” the fifth-year coach said. “It was a progression from last season. Twenty-plus wins last season, 30-plus wins this season. And if we keep going at that rate, I mean, we're going to be unstoppable. So it's just encouraging as you reflect and you think on it, and then to realize, like, ‘Hey, the majority of the people that are coming back are sophomores.' So it just excites you a little bit that there's a bright future.”
On Saturday, FAMU got off to a strong start. In the first inning, No. 2 hitter Amya Ramos tripled to left-center field, getting the first run of the contest. The freshman second baseman tallied the only score for her team through six innings.
Southern knotted the contest in the next frame after sophomore Ariel Burton drove in a run on a groundout. Senior Keira Miracle-Tilford reached home after entering the game as a pinch runner for Kira Manganello, who walked.
The Jaguars finished the game with only two hits and struggled to find an offensive rhythm.
“We just kind of got back to being careful versus our aggressive approach,” Williams said.
The contest was mostly dominated by each team’s ace, who both threw a complete game. Southern ace Aaliyah Zabala, the SWAC Pitcher of the Year, settled into the game after the early RBI triple to the second batter she faced. The sophomore struck out three and allowed five hits and no walks through six innings.
FAMU graduate student Samantha Smith was also impressive. She struck out one, walked four and allowed two hits after six innings.
Tied 1-1, Southern started the top of the seventh inning at the plate. FAMU retired the side with two batters thrown out at first after bunts and fouled out to the first baseman.
FAMU’s offense was Southern’s Zabala returned to the pitching circle, two players got on base after a bunt and a hit by pitch. The Lady Jaguars’ star pitcher then gave up the RBI single that ended the program’s season.
Williams told her star pitcher after the game that she was pleased with everything she’s accomplished despite the disappointing result.
“She had a great year, excellent year, excellent season, excellent pitching,” Williams said. “Just told her I was proud of her and what she's doing, and can't wait to see what she does next year.”
Southern’s 32 regular-season wins were the most in program history.