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Southern University

Scoreboard

Softball Team
Amare Walker
1
Southern SBR 37-15
2
Winner Florida A&M FAMU 32-20
Southern SBR
37-15
1
Final
2
Florida A&M FAMU
32-20
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Southern SBR 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0
Florida A&M FAMU 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 7 1

W: Samantha Smith (11-7) L: Zabala, Aaliyah (18-6)

Game Recap: Softball | | Kevin Albarez, Assistant Strategic Communications Director

Historic Season Ends in SWAC Championship Heartbreaker

GULFPORT, Miss. — Southern University's historic run came to a dramatic close Saturday evening with a 2-1 loss to Florida A&M in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship at the Gulfport Sportsplex.
 
Southern (37-15) managed just two hits despite drawing four walks, while Florida A&M (32-20) capitalized on a late opportunity to secure the title with a walk-off in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Florida A&M struck first in the opening inning when Amya Ramos tripled into the left-center gap to score Neriah Lee for a 1-0 advantage.
 
The Lady Jaguars answered in the second. Kira Manganello drew a walk and was replaced on the bases by Keira Miracle-Tilford. Prestaisha White followed with a single to put runners in scoring position, and Ariel Burton brought Miracle-Tilford home with a groundout to the pitcher to tie the game at 1-1.
 
From there, the matchup turned into a pitchers' duel. Aaliyah Zabala settled in and held the Rattlers scoreless over the next five innings, while Samantha Smith limited Southern's offense, allowing just two hits across seven innings of work.
 
Abby Mitchell recorded one of Southern's two hits with a single to center in the sixth inning, but the Lady Jaguars were unable to advance her into scoring position.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Kiara Beltre led off with a bunt single and advanced to second when Smith was hit by a pitch. With one out, Braxtyn Battle delivered the decisive blow, lining a single into left field to score Beltre and end the game.
 
Zabala (18-6) suffered the tough-luck loss after allowing two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in 6.1 innings. Smith (11-7) earned the complete-game victory.
 
Zabala, Mitchell, Ava Wallace and Asia George were named to the All-Tournament Team for their performances across seven games.
 
Southern closes the season with a program-record 37 wins, a perfect 17-0 mark at home, its first SWAC Championship appearance since 2009 and the conference's highest RPI.
 
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