Cleveland, Miss. — The Delta State University softball team lost both games of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon against Mississippi College at University Field. The Choctaws defeated the Lady Statesmen 14-2 in six innings and 2-1 in eight innings.
In the opener, Mississippi College used multi-run frames and a seven-run sixth inning to pull away. Delta State scored first when Mary Teague singled and later scored on Maeve Lavoy’s RBI single. Lavoy also drove in both Lady Statesmen runs, adding a sacrifice fly in the third. Mississippi College responded with pressure throughout the game, capitalizing on two defensive errors in the third and Ellie Fryar’s solo home run in the fourth. The Choctaws broke the game open in the sixth with seven runs, highlighted by a three-run double from Mary Lem and a two-run single from Madelyn Halle.
Joryie McKnight led DSU offensively with a 2-for-3 effort, including a triple and an RBI, while Lavoy added two RBIs. For Mississippi College, Ellie Fryar homered in the fourth inning.
Game two was a tense pitchers’ duel that extended into extra innings. Delta State took the early lead in the fourth on a bunt single by McKnight, who stole second and scored on Kyleigh Wheaton’s RBI single. Kendal Moore pitched well for DSU, allowing two runs over 7.1 innings with two strikeouts. Mississippi College tied the game in the sixth with an RBI single from Megan Matheis and won it in the eighth with a homer from Matheis. The Lady Statesmen threatened in the bottom half but fell short.
Wheaton, Dunigan, Lavoy, and others recorded hits for Delta State. Moore’s strong pitching kept the game close, but the Lady Statesmen could not overcome the late-game rally by the Choctaws.
Delta State will attempt to rebound Sunday at 1 p.m. in the series finale at University Field.
