Southwest Mississippi softball hosted No. 6 Jones College on Tuesday, March 24. The Lady Bears lost game one 2-1 but rebounded to win game two 17-9 via run rule, according to team sources.
Allie Ladnier pitched all seven innings in the first game, allowing two runs on four strikeouts. The game featured only eight total hits, with Southwest tallying three. The Lady Bears scored their lone run on a passed ball that allowed Corin Talbot to score from third.
Game two saw a different outcome. Ballard Kraft started on the mound before being replaced by Mary Claire Salley. After falling behind 7-2, Southwest responded with an eight-run inning in the second, taking the lead and never relinquishing it. Allie Ladnier pitched the final three innings, earning the save with one hit allowed.
Jones opened the game with a three-run first inning, but Southwest answered quickly with two runs on a homer by Alexis Dejean. The Lady Bears then scored four more runs in the second inning, including a double by Talbot and a single by Clements, to cut the deficit to 7-6. Several walks and hit-by-pitches helped the team rally, eventually taking an 11-8 lead after a home run by Tristan Allen.
The team added to its lead in later innings, with Dejean hitting her second homer and Allen her second of the night. In the sixth inning, Ladnier’s double scored McLin, and a sacrifice fly by Dejean sealed the 17-9 victory, which ended the game by run rule. Southwest finished with 17 hits and 17 RBIs, led by Talbot with three hits and Dejean with five RBIs.
Head coach Shea Johnson praised the team’s resilience and discipline. “The fight in this group is phenomenal, and I was impressed with how they didn’t drop their heads,” he said. Johnson also commended the contributions of substitute players, emphasizing the team-first mentality that contributed to their success.
The Lady Bears, now 19-5 overall and 6-2 in conference, will travel to face Mississippi Delta on Thursday, March 26, according to team officials.
