CLEVELAND, Miss. — The Delta State University softball team played its most competitive games of the season Tuesday at University Field but fell short in both ends of a doubleheader against undefeated Blue Mountain Christian University.
In the opener, Blue Mountain edged Delta State 6-5. The Lady Statesmen took an early lead when Ally Agner scored on an RBI single from Rebecca Martinez in the second inning. Blue Mountain responded with two runs in the third, then took the lead with a three-run sixth inning, capitalizing on two DSU errors and a two-RBI double from Neely Barrier.
Delta State briefly regained the lead in the seventh, with Calli McConnell driving in her fourth run of the game, but the tying run was left stranded at second. McConnell finished 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs, while Joryie McKnight went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. The Lady Statesmen outhit Blue Mountain 9-6. Pitchers Kendal Moore, Ellie Cox, and Maeve Lavoy combined for seven innings, allowing six hits and six runs, three earned, with three strikeouts.
The nightcap went into extra innings, with Blue Mountain winning 7-6 in eight frames. Delta State erased an early 2-0 deficit with a three-run third, highlighted by an RBI from Ally Agner and a sacrifice fly from Carly Dunigan. The Lady Statesmen took a 6-3 lead after a four-run fourth, capped by Kyleigh Wheaton’s three-run homer.
Blue Mountain responded with a three-run sixth, including a homer by Vaye Savage, who finished with four RBIs. The game was decided in the eighth inning after an international tiebreaker put a runner at second base. Blue Mountain scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. Delta State threatened in the bottom half, with runners on second and third, but a strikeout and flyout ended the rally.
In the second game, Wheaton went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, and Mary Teague and Agner each went 2-for-3. Pitched by Lavoy, Bridgman, and Pippin, the Lady Statesmen allowed 10 hits and seven runs over eight innings. Delta State will host No. 7 West Florida in a three-game series this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader Friday at 3 p.m. CT.
