OXFORD, Ala. ---- #4 Mississippi College secured a 5-1 victory over the #5 seed Valdosta State in the Semifinals of the Gulf South Conference tournament at Choccolocco PARK, Oxford Ala. clinching their berth in Saturday's GSC Championship game.
Valdosta State got off to a strong start in the first inning, loading the bases on a double by Morgan Hill and walks from Abby Sulte and Katie Proctor. An error by Brooklyn Cannon allowed Sulte to score, giving Valdosta State an early lead.
MC's offense responded with singles from Jordan LaFoss and Shelby Samples in the bottom of the inning, but a double play off McCall Lee's hit halted their momentum.
Cannon settled down after Valdosta's big inning, ending the second inning without conceding any hits.
In the top of the third, Emily Rigney's routine double turned into an inside-the-park home run, leveling the score at one apiece.
Cannon continued her strong performance with another scoreless inning in the fourth, marking three consecutive frames without conceding a run.
Brandie Seber got Valdosta their first hit since the third before getting out of the inning, conceding only one hit.
In the pivotal 6th inning, Samples ignited the momentum with a single and a steal, putting MC in a prime scoring position. Lee draws walk with bases loaded, and with Eaton hit by a pitch, MC found themselves with the bases loaded and two outs.
Seizing the moment, Lightcap epitomized the sentiment of having "one shot, one opportunity to seize everything" as she delivered a clutch single up the middle, driving in two runs to propel MC into a three to one lead.
As the crowd held its breath, Cannon followed suit with another crucial single, clearing the bases and extending the lead to four runs.
Although Hill and Sulte drew walks in the seventh, MC held firm, securing the victory to clinch their spot in the GSC Championship game
MC improved to 45-6 overall on the season and won their 19th straight game with the win. They take on AUM on Saturday, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Choccolocco Park in a winner take all Championship.
STATS OF THE DAY
This marks the first time Mississippi College has reached the conference championship game since 2021.
Emily Rigney's inside-the-park home run was a crucial moment in the game.
Samples recorded two hits and a stolen base.
Lightcap contributed with one hit, two RBIs, and a walk.
Cannon had one hit and two RBIs, along with an impressive seven innings pitched and two strikeouts.
