Monticello, Ark. — Mississippi College senior pitcher Camryn Bailey set a new program record Tuesday, earning her 70th career win in a doubleheader sweep of the University of Arkansas at Monticello at Ryburn Park.
Bailey’s milestone came in the first game, where she entered relief and pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing no hits or runs and striking out one. She needed just 17 pitches to close out the game, sealing her place atop the program’s career wins list, surpassing former standout Tracey Brewer, who finished with 69 wins from 1987-90.
The Choctaws took an early lead in the opener. Madelyn England’s single in the first inning brought in two runs after a UAM fielding error. In the third, Ellie Fryar walked and later scored on Shelby Samples’ double to give Mississippi College a 3-1 advantage. UAM tied the game in the fifth with a two-run homer, but Mississippi College responded in the seventh. Fryar drew another walk, advanced to third, and scored on Mary Lem’s single to center, which drove in two runs for a 5-3 victory.
Starting pitcher Grace Wallis pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits. Bailey’s relief performance preserved the win. The Choctaws carried their momentum into the second game, winning 7-3 with timely hitting and aggressive base running. Fryar opened with a solo home run in the first. In the second, Hadley Lemons scored after reaching base, and Shelby Samples added a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 3-0.
Lydia Bethards contributed a two-run homer in the fourth, boosting the lead to 5-1. She added an RBI single in the sixth, and Kallee Nichols doubled home Samples in the seventh to finalize the scoring. Reagan Rios pitched a complete game, scattering five hits and allowing three runs, two earned, with eight strikeouts in seven innings. She threw 71 strikes among 119 pitches.
Bailey’s career has included some of the most dominant single-season performances in program history. She owns the single-season record with 26 wins in 2024 and is tied for third with 24 wins in 2023. The program’s top single-season totals are 26 wins by Bailey in 2024, 24 wins by Katie Waterbury in 2002, and 24 by Susan Musselwhite in 1993.
With her 70th victory, Bailey now holds the all-time record in Mississippi College softball history. The team continues to build momentum and will play more conference games at home this weekend against Union.
