CLINTON, Miss. — Mississippi College (21-13-1, 11-6) had a thrilling doubleheader against Valdosta State University (14-17, 8-9) at the MC Softball Complex on Saturday, securing a narrow 9-8 victory in the first game and a decisive 10-0 shutout in the second.
In game one, the Choctaws capitalized on four doubles and a home run to maintain their lead despite Valdosta State hitting four home runs in the contest. Mississippi College opened the scoring in the first inning with two runs;
Morgan Lavergne advanced to third on an error, allowing her to score on a fielder's choice by
Megan Matheis, while
Sarah Lee brought
Blakely Gill home for an unearned run. MC led 2-0 after one inning.
The second inning saw MC add another run as
Ellie Fryar doubled to center field, scoring
Kate Rills, who had walked earlier. The score was 3-1 in favor of the Choctaws after two innings. Valdosta State evened the score in the third inning, capitalizing on a right field error to score two unearned runs, tying the game at 3-3.
In the fourth inning, Valdosta State took the lead with four runs, highlighted by a three-run homer from Madison VanAllen, putting the Blue and Gold in a 7-3 deficit. However, MC responded in the fifth with a solo home run from
Shelby Samples, narrowing the gap to 7-4. The Blue and Gold mounted a comeback in the sixth inning with Fryar delivering a two-run double, followed by Matheis' single that drove in Fryar, bringing the score to 8-7.
The final inning saw MC complete the comeback as Fryar's single set up Lavergne's RBI double, and an error allowed Lavergne to score the winning run, securing a 9-8 victory.
Camryn Bailey started for Mississippi College, pitching 3 1/3 innings and allowing seven runs on seven hits, including three home runs.
AK Willingham relieved Bailey, delivering 3 2/3 innings of work, surrendering only one run on two hits while striking out one. Fryar recorded four hits, including two doubles, and drove in three runs. Lavergne added two hits and a double, scoring twice. Samples hit a home run as part of her two-hit performance, finishing with two RBIs. Matheis collected two hits and two RBIs.
In the second game, Mississippi College opened with a commanding performance, scoring four runs in the first inning. Fryar singled, followed by a double from Samples that advanced Fryar to third.
Blakely Gill hit a three-run homer, bringing in both Fryar and Samples, and Matheis added a solo home run. By the end of the first inning, MC led 4-0.
The offense continued to press in the second inning, with
Kate Rills singling and advancing to second on a groundout. Fryar's single moved Rills to third, and Lavergne's single drove in Rills. Samples then hit a two-RBI double, followed by Gill's double that scored Samples. Matheis capped the inning with an RBI double, extending the lead to 9-0 after just two innings.
The third inning saw
Ashlyn Rodgers reach second base on an error and score on a single by Samples, increasing the lead to 10-0. MC maintained its lead through the fourth and fifth innings, holding Valdosta State scoreless for a final score of 10-0.
Reagan Rios delivered a strong performance on the mound, pitching 4 innings without allowing a run and giving up only three hits while striking out two batters.
Grace Wallis contributed an additional inning of scoreless relief, maintaining a WHIP of 1.00.
Shelby Samples led the team with three hits, including two doubles, and drove in three runs.
Blakely Gill added two hits, including a home run and a double, contributing four RBIs, while Matheis also provided a power boost with a home run, a double, and two RBIs.
Ellie Fryar scored twice and collected two hits.
Mississippi College holds an overall record of 21-13-1 and is 11-6 in its conference, while Valdosta State has a 14-17 overall record with an 8-9 conference record. Looking ahead, Mississippi College will host Valdosta State again on Saturday, March 28, at 1 p.m. CT in Clinton, Mississippi for Senior Day.
