The Mississippi College softball team wrapped up the 2017 season at the NCAA South Regional 1 on Friday at the UWF Softball Complex.
The Lady Choctaws (35-20) opened the day with a 5-3 win in an elimination game over Claflin, but Valdosta State ended MC’s season with an 8-0 victory on Friday night.
GAME ONE: Mississippi College 5, Claflin 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
– The Lady Choctaws got on the board first in the second inning when senior Megan Everett doubled home sophomore Alexia Harmon.
– Everett came home to score and make the lead 2-0 after a single by senior Lauren Mulligan.
– The Panthers (33-20) would get a run back with a solo home run in the third, but a lightning delay in the fifth inning halted the game at 2:30 p.m. and it would not pick back up until 5:30 p.m.
– Just before the lightning delay, sophomore Maknezie Nieto made the score 3-1 with an RBI single to score senior Tylan Buckley.
– MC would add two more runs in the fifth to make the score 5-1 on bases loaded walks by Mulligan and senior Haley Thompson.
– In the sixth inning, Claflin would bring the go-ahead run to the plate after a couple of RBI singles, but junior Kristen Gardner was able to get out of the jam.
KEY STATS
– Everett and junior Katherine Lee led the Lady Choctaws with two hits apiece, while Harmon scored twice for MC.
– Gardner (4-3) tossed a complete game in the circle, scattering seven hits and three earned runs with two strikeouts.
– Chelsea Hall led the Panthers with three hits, including the solo home run.
– Tiaria Norman (19-7) took the loss for Claflin, giving up seven hits and eight walks over 7.0 innings.
GAME TWO: Valdosta State 8, MC 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
– The Blazers would score all the runs they needed in the first inning with a two-run home run by Hayley Cruthers.
– MC had baserunners threaten in the first two innings but could not push a run across.
– VSU closed out the win with an RBI single by Jessica Mohl in the sixth inning.
KEY STATS
– Gardner (4-4) took the loss for MC, giving up four hits and four earned runs.
– Freshman Jordan Holifield pitched the final 4.0 innings for the Lady Choctaws, giving up four hits and three earned runs with two strikeouts.
– Lee, Harmon and sophomore Makenzie Nieto each had hits for MC.
– Kathryn Carter picked up the win in the circle for VSU, allowing just three hits with three strikeouts over 6.0 innings.
