COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Wildcats breakthrough campaign came to a tough ending on the second day of the conference tournament. Spring Hill College upended Fort Valley State's breakthrough softball season in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Second Round Elimination Game, 9-1 in five innings.

After the Badgers went down in order to start the game, the Wildcats saw Chasity Kates line a one-out single through the left side of the infield. Following the second out, Taylor Orr singled to left to move Kates to third before Laila Leverett drove the ball for a double to left center and a 1-0 lead. Spring Hill answered in the top of the second when it took advantage of four FVSU errors and scored nine times. The Wildcats put runners on bases in each of the home second, third and fourth, but they were unable to add any more runs.

The tough second day of the SIAC Tournament did not dampen the impact of the 2024 FVSU season. For the first time in 21 seasons since being 30-5 in 2003, the Wildcats put over 30 wins on the win column and finished the year at 31-17 overall. The 31 wins were the most since the program went 32-15 for 2010. FVSU also claimed the SIAC East crown by two games over Edward Waters with a 20-4 final mark.

In Tuesday's contest, FVSU registered five hits in five at bats. Leverett singled along with her RBI double while Kates went 2 for 3 with the run and a stolen base. Orr had the other hit in the home first with a single.

For the bottom of the second, Avery Thomas drew a one-out walk and moved to second on Ashtyn Perkins sacrifice bunt, but she was stranded there. Kates led off the third with a single, but she did not advance any further. Leverett singled to start the fourth, but Spring Hill retired the next three hitters. The Badgers then ended the Wildcat run by setting them down in order for the home fifth.

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