COLUMBUS, Ga. – Miles was able to take out a higher seed but unable to remain in the winner's bracket during the first day of the 2026 SIAC Softball Championships presented by Toyota. The Lady Bears upset Edward Waters before falling to upset-minded Fort Valley State at South Commons Softball Complex.
 
MILES 3, EDWARD WATERS 1 (11)
After battling for 10 innings over two days at the SIAC Crossover in March, the two teams were locked in another marathon battle to open the tournament.

The Lady Bears took a while to get the offense started, with the first 15 hitters being retired in order. But Delaney Gray had four of her eight strikeouts in the first five innings and her defense was solid behind her to keep the game scoreless.

Gray would get the first hit for Miles to leadoff the sixth, which turned into the first run of the game. Courtesy runner Sara Harris stole second, moved to third on a sac bunt by Trinity Collier and scored on a single by Andrea Harris for a 1-0 lead.

Edward Waters would score on an unearned run with two outs in the seventh to send the game into extras. Gray battled with her control all morning, walking eight hitters – five of them coming in extra innings. But the Tigers were unable to take advantage and the Lady Bears made them pay in the 11^th.

Andrea Harris singled, then stole second base. Daisy Bejarano would reach on a bunt single that pushed Harris to third and one out later, Gabriela Garcia reached to load the bases. Trenity Okedele would break the tie with a sacrifice fly that plated Harris and Jada Bradford followed with a RBI single that brought home Bejarano for a 3-1 lead. Gray allowed the tying runs to reach in the bottom of the frame but got two ground balls to end it and send Miles forward in the winner's bracket to face Fort Valley State.

FORT VALLEY STATE 3, MILES 1
The Lady Bears had several opportunities but the offense could not cash them in, leaving nine runners on base as Miles fell into the elimination bracket with a loss to East No. 4 seed Fort Valley State.

The Lady Wildcats jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead against starter Gracey Adkins. A two-out RBI double by Amira Johnson in the first inning was followed by a solo home run by Darianna Sosa to leadoff the second. The Lady Bears got one of the runs back on a RBI single by Bejarano in the bottom of the second. But with the bases loaded and two outs, Garcia grounded out to end the threat.

FVSU got that run right back in the third. With two outs, an errant throw from left fielder Jada Odom allowed Jasmine Stewart to score an unearned run to push the Lady Wildcats advantage back to two runs.

Miles had two chances to get back in the scoring column. In the fifth, the Lady Bears put a runner on third with two outs but failed to score. In the seventh, Odom singled, stole second and saw pinch-hitter Jada McCalebb reach on a walk. But Miles could not gain any more traction and left two more runners on to end the game.