CLINTON, Miss. --- #4 Mississippi College punched their ticket to the Super Regionals defeating Tampa by a final score of 3-0 in the regional championship game of the NCAA Division II South II Region on Saturday.
The game began with a pitching duel, as both teams' pitchers, Camryn Bailey and Gwen McGinnis, showcased themselves in circle by combining for seven strikeouts in the first six innings without conceding a run.
Tampa's Lauren Fantone kickstarted the hitting in the 1st inning with a single. However, it wasn't until the 4th inning that Emily Rigney secured the first hit for the Choctaws.
In the electrifying top of the 6th inning, the Choctaws' offense went nuclear, exploding for three runs. Emily Rigney, Jordan LaFosse, and McCall Lee scored on a Kamryn Eaton bases-clearing double, to put MC ahead, breaking a scoreless game as the Choctaws went ahead 3-0.
Bailey shut the Spartans done the remainder of the way, pitching scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh inning, while striking out th final Spartan to help solidify MC's place in next week's Super Regional.
Stat of the day:
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In MC's first time hosting a regional, they emerged victorious.
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Tampa suffered consecutive losses against the same opponent for only the second time this season.
Bailey delivered a stellar performance, pitching seven innings, allowing four hits, and tallying five strikeouts.
Eaton's impressive blast off the wall for a bases-clearing three-run double was a highlight of the game to put MC on the board.
The Choctaws improved to 48-7 on the season and will take on Auburn-Montgomery on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Super Regionals in Montgomery, Ala.
