SAVANNAH, Ga.- Before Savannah State started their 2026 season, head coach Amber Hallman had some goals that she wanted her team to accomplish.
 
The fourth year coach wanted her squad to hit .500, finish in the top two in the league standings, win their home series and have a 3.5 grade point average.

The Lady Tigers pretty much surpassed Hallman's demands.

Although SSU hit .305, they finished tied for second in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East with rival Edward Waters, won 11 of 15 home games and had several players recognized for their academic achievements during the university's Honors Day program.

An added nugget is that the team finish the regular season with 26 wins, tying a single season record that was set by the 2012 team and matched by the 2013, 2016 and 2026 programs. Hallman was a sophomore pitcher on the 2016 team.

The 2026 team is led by senior Ansley Hudson who has a .462 batting average. A native of Deltona, Florida native anchors the SSU offense with 40 runs, 48 hits, seven doubles, three triples, two home runs, 17 RBI and 34 stolen bases.

Sophomore Jayla Alexander bats .388 and produced 26 runs, 40 hits, eight doubles, one triple, one home run and 26 RBI. 

Others who are batting over .300 include Ambria Guye (.353), Neveah Ford (.321) and Kaitlyn Williams (.305).

Guye has 36 hits, eight doubles, four home runs and 24 RBI, Ford has 31 steals in 31 attempts as well as 30 runs and 27 hits. Williams has added 21 runs, 29 hits, four doubles and 21 RBI.

Malini Dunning (19 steals, four doubles, 21 RBI), Madison Starling-Martin (26 RBI, seven doubles) and Ariana Battle (11 steals, five doubles have also be assets to the team.

Jayla Givens had chipped in 21 RBI, five home runs, five doubles and three triples while Shamiya Raines has seven doubles.

Donnea Allen is one of the top pitchers in the conference, having finished the regular season with a 3.29 ERA and a 17-7 record. She pitched 153 innings and recorded 172 strikeouts.

Aaliyah Martin logged in 80 innings on the mound with 39 strikeouts to go with her 3.66 ERA and 7-5 record.

Savannah State (26-16, 15-9 SIAC) is slated to play Spring Hill, the #2 seed from the SIAC West,  in the first round of the conference tournament in Columbus, Georgia.

The #3 seed from the SIAC East, SSU lost to the Badgers 10-2 during the regular season in the SIAC Roundup in Gardendale, Alabama.

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