ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – The Savannah State softball team's first winning season in school history came to a close Friday in the 12th game (SSU's fourth game) of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Softball Championship at Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach, Florida with an 8-0 loss to Florida A&M.

Savannah State finishes the season with a 26-24 overall record and a 12-3 MEAC record. The closest team to finish over .500 was the 2009-10 squad that finished 18-23.

The Lady Tigers entered their first MEAC tournament Thursday as the number seed in the south division after clinching the Southern Division Title the previous week. They fell to the north division four seed Hampton University 5-4 in the opening round.

They defeated the north division one seeded Delaware State 6-4 and four seeded North Carolina A&T 7-4 to advance to game 12 against Florida A&M.
The Lady Rattlers put up six runs early in the contest and never looked back in the shutout victory. In the second inning three costly errors from the Lady Tigers helped Florida A&M to a 3-0 lead. In the third the Lady Rattlers blasted five hits, scoring three more runs.

After two scoreless middle innings, Florida A&M tacked on the game winning runs in the bottom of the sixth sealing up the victory early.

Florida A&M continued on to defeat Hampton University 12-6 later Friday for a chance at the Championship. They face the defending MEAC Champion Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcat's Saturday for the Championship.

Jennifer Lindsey garnered her 15th pitching win after six innings in the circle. She allowed no runs on one hit with two strikeouts.

Madison Hedderly was tagged with the loss. After three innings of work she allowed six runs (three earned) on six hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Hedderly finishes the season with a career best 18-12 record and 2.47 ERA.

Fifth year head coach Jose Gonzalez holds Savannah State's best softball coaching record at 78-134 and 12-3 in the MEAC.  Gonzalez inherited a team that had only nine Division I wins in six seasons. He was named MEAC Coach of the Year, prior to the tournament.