The Southern Conference softball tournament took an unexpected detour through federal court in Birmingham on Wednesday before the scheduled opening game between Elon and Georgia Southern this morning at Jim Frost Stadium.
Four Samford senior softball players filed a Title IX lawsuit on Tuesday against the Southern Conference for scaling back the softball tournament to four teams this season.
Late Wednesday, U.S. federal judge Abdul Karim Kallon denied their request to issue an injunction and force the conference to expand the tournament to an eight-team format.
Kenny Haynes, an attorney for the Samford players, said via e-mail that the judge was allowing the players to file amended briefs overnight and could change his decision early today.
“We are still hopeful that we can satisfy the court that Title IX applies to the Southern Conference and he will change his decision first thing in the morning,” Haynes wrote. “If he does not, the tournament will proceed, but unfortunately without the participation of four softball teams when eight baseball teams will have an opportunity to participate in a postseason championship tournament.”