Southern Miss softball’s fall ball season brings a new sense of energy, purpose and challenge. Although it does not include the team’s main spring competition, the fall schedule plays an essential role in the program’s year-round development.
During this period, coaches refine fundamentals, build team chemistry and evaluate new talent. The fall season allows coaches to test different lineups, strengthen the program’s culture and create momentum heading into the spring.
With 11 freshmen, eight sophomores and two transfers, the Golden Eagles are emphasizing both individual performance and team accountability. The lower-pressure environment allows players to focus on improving mechanics, adapting to coaching styles and learning situational play. It also provides time for athletes recovering from injuries to reestablish themselves and for newcomers to adjust to the college level.
In collegiate softball, fall ball includes nonconference exhibition and development games and practices that take place after summer and before the official spring season. Although these games do not count toward conference standings or NCAA tournament qualifications, they are used to evaluate player performance and development.
New and returning players gain additional opportunities in live game settings, such as at-bats, defensive plays and pitching innings. This period helps athletes refine skills, build confidence and receive individualized instruction. Coaches use it to assess reactions under pressure, identify potential starters and evaluate positional versatility and leadership traits.
Head Coach Natalie Poole said the staff uses the fall schedule to challenge players to perform consistently. “Let’s see if we practice and play the same, if we have some girls who rise to the occasion when they get on the field,” Poole said.
Poole said the fall season is key for defining roles and encouraging competition as players contend for starting positions across the roster. “It’s a time to see who we are as a team,” Poole said. “Like, how we are during games? Are we competitive? Are we locked in? Are we focused? How are we going to execute certain skills that we were working on in practice?”
The lighter fall schedule helps prevent injuries and allows coaches to manage workloads, particularly among pitchers. It also provides an opportunity for tactical experimentation, including lineup orders, situational plays, defensive alignments and bullpen strategies.
Although fall games do not impact the team’s official record, their influence carries into the spring. A strong fall performance can help a player earn a starting role or strengthen a coach’s confidence in their readiness. Habits developed during the fall—such as mental toughness, consistent routines and handling adversity—often persist into the regular season.
In the 2025 spring season, Southern Miss showed both growth and challenges. During tournaments such as the Golden Eagle Classic, the Golden Eagles displayed offensive strength, scoring 28 runs in two run-rule victories. Senior Jana Lee delivered standout performances, including a complete game with 11 strikeouts and a grand slam. Senior Mikaila Fox also contributed key hits and runs for the Golden Eagles.
The team also faced challenges, including being swept by conference opponent Texas State. Those experiences, Poole said, highlight the importance of fall preparation in developing confidence and resilience.
As the Golden Eagles approach fall 2025, the program is expected to continue focusing on regional matchups and development-centered scheduling. These exhibition games provide valuable opportunities to assess talent and maintain connections with fans and the community.
Poole said the coaching staff will concentrate on several priorities for the upcoming fall season. “What does our base running look like?” she said. “What will our timing at the plate look like? Can we find out who’s more aggressive at the plate? We will find out who’s good at reading contact (off the ball), things like that,” she said.
Fall ball provides time for the team to evaluate leadership, foster cohesion and set expectations for the rest of the year. By the start of the spring season, the goal is to have a confident, well-prepared lineup ready to compete.
Although fall ball does not determine championships, the period serves as a foundation for readiness. The practices and exhibition games in October and November help Southern Miss softball develop, experiment and prepare for the challenges of spring competition.
