JACKSON, Tenn. --- Sophomore
Makenzie Nieto's two-out grand slam in the sixth inning helped lift the Mississippi College softball team to the 700th win in program history and a series victory over Union University on Monday afternoon at Fesmire Softball Field.
The program dates back to 1986 with the first victory in school history coming on March 22, 1986 in a 6-2 win over Tennessee-Martin.
TURNING POINT
- Trailing 7-6 with two outs in the sixth inning, Nieto went deep to center field with the bases loaded, giving the Lady Choctaws (12-11, 6-6 GSC) a 10-7 advantage over the Lady Bulldogs (14-10, 4-8 GSC).
HOW IT HAPPENED
- MC would get the scoring going in the first inning as senior
Haley Thompson drew a walk and stole two bases before touching home on a single by senior Tylan Buckley.
- Union would take the lead back in their half of the first as Paige Robertson singled home two runs on a blooper just over second baseman
Lauren Mulligan.
- An RBI single by sophomore
Kristen Qualls scored junior
Katherine Lee to tie the game in the third, while Buckley scored on a Union error to take a 3-2 lead.
- Freshman
Carly Crawford hit her third home run of the series in the third, a two-run shot that gave MC a 6-2 advantage.
- The Bulldogs would not go away, however, as they put up two runs in the third and took the lead in the fifth with a two-run home run by Haley Barnette.
- In the sixth, MC loaded the bases with one out, but a fielder's choice cut down the would-be tying run at the plate, bringing Nieto up with two outs.
- The New Hudson, Mich. native hit her third home run of the season to give the Lady Choctaws the lead for good.
- Ashley Scott cut into the MC lead with a solo home run in the sixth, but the Bulldogs could not get any closer than the 10-8 score.
- Sophomore
Alexia Harmon scored an insurance run in the seventh inning on a fielder's choice, while Buckley tripled home two to push the lead to 13-8.
- The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the seventh inning, putting the tying run in the on-deck circle, but a groundout to first base ended the game for MC.
KEY STATS
- Nieto had a team-high five RBI with two runs scored as MC had eight different players score at least one run in the contest.
- Lee, Buckley and Crawford each had a team-high two hits, while Lee scored a team-high three runs. Buckley (3) and Crawford (2) each had multiple RBI's in the game.
- MC stole a season-high nine bases in the victory, led by Thompson and Lee with three apiece.
- Sophomore
Adrianna Morgan (3-3) got the win in relief for the Lady Choctaws, allowing just one hits and one earned run over 2.2 innings.
- Sophomore
Penny Nichols got the start for MC, scattering 10 hits and six earned runs over 4.1 innings.
- Four different Bulldogs had two hits in the game, while Robertson, Hailey Cummings and Barnette each had two RBI.
- Hannah Ridolfi (8-5) took the loss for Union, giving up nine hits and four earned runs over 6.0 innings.
NEXT UP
- The Lady Choctaws will come home to face Alcorn State in a mid-week doubleheader, hosting the Lady Braves at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.
Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC is recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and will be competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.
The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.
For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact
David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.
#MC#
