CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College softball team bounced back from an opening-game loss to pick up a 13-5 win and split a doubleheader with Valdosta State University on Saturday afternoon at the MC Softball Complex.

The Lady Choctaws (26-11, 15-8 GSC) exploded for 13 hits, including two home runs in the victory, responding to a 7-3 loss to the Blazers (27-9-2, 13-8-1 GSC) in the opener.

VSU got the second game going with three runs in the opening inning, but freshman Shelby Miller and junior Tylan Buckley recorded back-to-back singles to cut the score to 3-1 after one frame.

Junior Megan Everett dealt a big blow in the second inning, finding the right-center gap with two outs to clear the loaded bases and give MC a 4-3 advantage.

After VSU tied the game with a solo home run in the third, Buckley gave MC the lead for good with a solo home run to lead off the MC half of the third.

Junior Madison Oliver pushed the lead out to 7-4 her third home run of the season, a two-run shot to score senior Lauren Mulligan. On the night, Oliver was 3-for-4 with the long ball, four RBI and two runs scored.

The Blazers appeared poised to tie the game in the fifth inning, loading the bases and scoring a run on a walk. Senior Kimmie Conley snagged a line drive to end the inning, proving the be the final scoring threat for VSU.

Freshman Alexia Harmon and Oliver each singled home a run in the sixth, while Mulligan drove in freshman Haley Muller to push the lead out to 10-5 through six innings.

In the sixth, MC needed three more runs for the run-rule victory and got them all with two outs as freshman Kristen Qualls singled home a run, Conley doubled home another and Oliver helped MC to the walk-off victory with a bases loaded single.

Freshman Penny Nichols (12-4) went all 6.0 innings for MC, scattering 10 hits and allowing just four earned runs. Huntyre Elling (8-5) took the loss for VSU, giving up nine hits and seven earned runs over 5.0 innings.

In the first game, the Blazers got off to a fast start, scoring four unearned runs in the opening inning.

It was all the offense Caitlyn Calhoun (18-4) would need as she struck out 11 and gave up just one earned run over the complete game effort.

MC put up their first run in the sixth inning as Conley doubled home Muller. Freshman Shelby Miller came off the bench to hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning, but the Blazers held on for the victory.

Senior Carlie Sargent (13-6) took the loss for MC, despite giving up just three earned runs over the 7.0 innings.

The Lady Choctaws and Blazers will close out the series on Sunday with a single game at 1:00 p.m. at the MC Softball Complex.