Mississippi College Softball Sweeps No. 25 Montevallo in GSC Opener
DECATUR, Miss. — Mississippi College opened Gulf South Conference softball play with two narrow wins over No. 25 Montevallo on Sunday at East Central Community College. The Choctaws earned a 3-2 extra-inning victory in the first game before rallying for a 6-5 win in the second game.
In the opener, Mississippi College relied on strong pitching from Camryn Bailey and timely hitting to secure the win. Bailey pitched all eight innings, allowing just two hits, one earned run, and striking out seven. The game was tied at 2-2 going into the eighth, when Lydia Bethards, pinch-running for Mary Lem, scored the winning run on Hadley Lemons’ double. Shelby Samples contributed two doubles, and Lem and Lemons each drove in a run.
Montevallo scored first with a run in the second inning. The Choctaws responded in the third when Samples doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lem. The Falcons took back the lead with a solo home run in the fourth, but Bailey answered with her own solo shot to tie the game. The game remained deadlocked until the eighth inning.
In the nightcap, Mississippi College overcame a late deficit to secure the victory. The Falcons scored first in the third inning, but the Choctaws responded with three runs, highlighted by a three-RBI double from Samples that scored three teammates. Montevallo tied the game in the fourth and took a 5-3 lead in the fifth.
The Choctaws took the lead for good in the sixth. Samples reached base, and Madisyn Matheis drew a walk before Lemons delivered a two-run double. Blakely Gill added an RBI single to put Mississippi College ahead 6-5. The defense held firm in the seventh to complete the sweep.
R. Rios started for Mississippi College, pitching 4 2/3 innings and inducing 11 groundouts. G. Wallis earned the win in relief with 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out one. Samples led the offense with two hits and three RBIs, while Lemons, Gill, and Fryar also contributed offensively.
The teams will meet again Saturday at 2 p.m. for the series finale at East Central Community College.
Source: Original Article
