TIFTON, Ga. --- The Mississippi College softball team qualified for the National Christian College Athletic Association MidEast Regional with a 5-1 win over #1 Valdosta State on Friday afternoon at the ABAC Softball Field.

Senior Lacie Patterson (6-6) allowed just four hits over a complete game effort as the Lady Choctaws (25-19, 14-14 GSC) handed the top-ranked Blazers (45-5, 24-4 GSC) just their fifth loss of the season.

The Southaven native struck out four and gave up just one unearned run in the fifth inning.

"It feels amazing as a senior to be a part of such an amazing team that pushes through offensively and defensively, as a whole," said Patterson. "Carlie (Sargent) pitched an awesome Game One and I'm proud of each and every one of my teammates. These girls work hard and are deserving. Qualifying for the NCCAA Regionals is an amazing feeling for our team and our seniors."

MC would get the scoring going in the third inning when senior Shay Mickens singled with one out and moved up to second with one of her four stolen bases on the day.

Senior Macey Lee singled to left field driving in Mickens and giving MC the advantage. After a single by senior Tori Bankston and a walk to senior Brooke Smitherman, freshman Mikayla Carruth, in her first start of the season, came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs.

The Prattville, Ala. native singled home Lee and Bankston with the eventual game-winning runs. It was just the second hit and RBI of the season for Carruth, who has been used mainly as a pinch-runner this season.

In the fourth inning, Lee drove in another run with a groundout and junior Madison Oliver made the score 4-0 through four innings.

The Blazers would score their lone run of the game in the fifth inning after putting runners at first and third with just one out. Patterson was able to get a groundout and a stirkeout to keep the damage minimal.

The Lady Choctaws would add an insurance run in the seventh inning when Smitherman singled home freshman Katherine Lee with two outs.

The Blazers would draw a two-out walk in the seventh, but Patterson got a fly-out to end the game and secure the NCCAA Tournament berth for MC.

The Lady Choctaw offense pounded out 12 hits with four players tallying multi-hit contests. Huntyre Elling (14-1) suffered her first loss of the season for the Blazers.

"Qualifying for NCCAA Regionals and beating the #1 team in the country on the road is an amazing accomplishment for our players and our program," said head coach Brooke O'Hair. "This team set a goal at the beginning of the season to qualify for regional and nationals, and we are one step closer to accomplishing both. Lacie and Carlie both pitched great today. Our defense made the extra-effort plays, and we executed offensively. Valdosta State is an amazing team with great talent. This is a great win for the future of our program."

In the first game of the doubleheader, the Blazers scored an unearned run in the fourth inning to pick up a 1-0 victory over the Lady Choctaws.

Junior Carlie Sargent (16-10) allowed just four hits with four strikeouts over a complete game effort in the circle.

Caitlyn Calhoun (26-3) gave up just two hits on the way to her 17th shutout of the season, striking out 11 batters.

The Lady Choctaws and the Blazers will wrap up the series tomorrow at noon (Central) back in Valdosta.