Once upon a time, the class of Black College softball presided on The Highest of Seven Hills.
Florida A&M dominated the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, winning 13 titles from 1993 to 2017 under legendary head coach Veronica Wiggins. The Rattlers still lead the MEAC for most softball championships.
Then came 2021.
The Rattlers had to chart a new legacy after moving to the Southwestern Athletic Conference, a Historically Black College and University NCAA Division I league that rivals the MEAC.
In 2026, FAMU finally broke through to win the SWAC Tournament by beating Southern in a 2-1 walkoff victory on May 9 at the Gulfport, Mississippi, Sportsplex.
“Personally, as a coach, it’s always been my dream,” said FAMU’s second-year head coach, Brittany Beall.
“To follow the steps of Coach Wiggins and see the legacy and make history of being the champion in the SWAC is huge. They ran the table in the MEAC for all those years. And I think coming into the SWAC, this is going to be the first of many.”
After faltering to Jackson State in the 2024 and 2025 SWAC Tournament championship rounds, the Rattlers had to commit if they wanted to change the result in the ensuing postseason.
It started with fall ball and early morning training.
“We live, breathe, and cry Orange and Green,” said pitcher and utility player Samantha Smith, the SWAC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player. “So waking up at 5 a.m. was worth it. We did it for our parents, teammates, coaches, all our support, alumni ― everyone.”
At last, the 2026 Rattlers will always be referred to as the first.
The first FAMU softball team to win the SWAC and end a nine-year conference championship drought.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been part of history,” said outfielder Neriah Lee, an All-SWAC Tournament Team selection. “Just making our statement known. We’ve been to the championship the last two years, and folks know we were chasing history. It was just a matter of time for us to get over that hump and allow us to win and finally make history as we did.”
To reward the Rattlers (32-20) for a championship season, they earned the SWAC’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament’s Gainesville Regional at the University of Florida. FAMU shares the four-team double-elimination field with No. 6 seed Florida (48-10), Georgia Tech (30-27), and Texas State (38-20).
“Trying to make our name and be respected in the SWAC,” Beall explained. “That’s something that we’ve worked on day by day. Being in the tournament and playing well has given us the confidence to push through. I’m excited.”
FAMU softball’s SWAC championship season continues in NCAA Tournament
The Rattlers will open the Gainesville Regional against the Florida Gators on Friday, May 15, at 11 a.m. Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The regional tournament winner advances to the NCAA Super Regional the following week.
The teams also met during FAMU’s most recent tournament appearance in 2017. Florida won 9-0 in five innings.
“We want to make sure we compete at regionals. Our goal has been to win one or two regional games,” Beall said. “It’s going to take a lot of dedication, a lot of focus on our part, but I think we can do it.”
The Rattlers and the Gators last met in March 2025. Florida won the non-conference regular season game 9-1 in six innings.
However, with more depth than last season and recent success in the SWAC Tournament’s double-elimination format, FAMU feels equipped to compete with Florida and the other regional teams.
“We knew we were going to come back stronger the next day and play how we know how to play,” Smith reflected on being forced to play a do-or-die game against Southern for the SWAC title. “We also talked about celebrating the little things and being more selfless. And I think that helped us win.”
FAMU expects a large turnout in Gainesville, which is only two hours away from Tallahassee. Eustis, where Beall had a state championship high school coaching career, and her hometown, Mount Dora, are within proximity and will likely be in the house, too.
“It’s not letting the moment get too big. Softball is softball,” Beall previewed the regional. “The pressure’s going to be there, the fans are going to be there, the fans are going to be screaming ‘Gator Bait’ and all these things. But we have to stick to FAMU softball.”
Florida A&M at Florida ― NCAA Softball Gainesville Regional
Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU softball: HERstory makers who returned program to championship form
Reporting by Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
