Black Athletes in the Spotlight: HBCU Sports & Local Highlights
- Florida A&M defeated Southern to win the SWAC softball championship.
- Samantha Smith and Aaliyah Zabala engaged in a tight pitchers' duel after a weather postponement.
- Samantha Smith allowed two hits and four walks while the Rattlers played clean defense Saturday following Friday errors.
- Amya Ramos hit an RBI triple; Ariel Burton tied it; Kiara Beltre singled and Braxtyn Battle delivered the decisive hit.
A last-second switch gave Florida A&M their first SWAC softball championship in dramatic fashion.
Pinch hitter Braxtyn Battle singled home Kiara Beltre with one out in the bottom of the 7th inning to give the Rattlers a 2-1 walk-off win over Southern in the conference championship game. The tournament win is FAMU’s first as a member of the SWAC and their first overall since winning the MEAC in 2017.
Saturday’s winner-take-all game was set up by an 8-0 five-inning win by the Jaguars Friday night and after a weather postponement, FAMU’s Samantha Smith and Southern’s Aaliyah Zabala engaged in a true pitchers’ duel.
FAMU got on the board first with an RBI triple by Amya Ramos in the bottom of the first inning, then Southern countered with an Ariel Burton RBI groundout in the top of the second.
From there, Smith and Zabala baffled opposing hitters. Smith allowed just two hits and even though she gave up four walks, the Rattler defense, which committed five errors Friday night, played a clean game Saturday.
Zabala, the SWAC pitcher of the year, showed no ill effects after pitching Friday night, striking out four batters and getting help from her defense as well.
After Smith retired Southern in order in the top of the 7th inning, Florida A&M pieced together their final rally.
Beltre singled with one out and Smith was hit by a pitch to bring Battle up, who was pinch hitting for third baseman Aniya Canty.
Battle looped a ball into left centerfield and Beltre slid headfirst at home well ahead of the throw for the winning run.
They put in the work. They wore the jersey. And now they wear the crown. 👑
Congratulations to your 2026 SWAC Softball Champions — Florida A&M Rattlers. 🥎🏆#FangsUp pic.twitter.com/ouLyVRu8uC
— Florida A&M Athletics (@FAMUAthletics) May 10, 2026
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