OXFORD, Ala. ---- #1 seed Mississippi College fell to the #2 seed Auburn Montgomery 9-3 in the Championship game of the Gulf South Conference tournament at Choccolocco Park, Oxford Alabama.
Camryn Bailey took the circle for MC, retiring all three batters in the first inning with one strikeout to close the frame. On the other side, Auburn Montgomery pitcher Alanna Goble started strong, striking out her first batter. However, Jordan LaFosse kickstarted the Choctaws' offense by smashing her 20th double of the season.
In the second inning, Bailey continued her dominance, pitching another no-hit inning, while Ashley Lightcap's standup double kept the MC bats alive.
The deadlock was broken in the fourth inning, with AUM scoring three runs with two outs. Frank initiated the rally with a single, followed by singles from Chloe Derrick, Shelby Newsome, and Margret Morgans, giving AUM a three-run lead.
MC quickly responded with a run of their own as Jenny Grigger's single, Jordan Moore's hit by pitch, and Emily Rigney's single allowed Griggers to score, narrowing the gap to two.
AUM continued their offensive prowess in the fifth inning, extending their lead to 5-1. Despite McCall Lee drawing a walk and Kamryn Eaton delivering a pivotal single for MC, AUM managed to navigate through the inning unscathed.
In the sixth inning, AUM capitalized on a throwing error by MC and three hits to push their advantage to eight runs.
The seventh inning showed signs of a potential MC comeback as LaFosse's walk and Lee's massive home run drove in two runs.
However, despite their efforts, MC fell short in a hard-fought battle, with AUM emerging victorious with a final score of 9-3. The victory marks AUM's first GSC championship since 2022.
Stat of the day:
Jordan LaFosse hit her 20th double of the season, setting a new record for the most doubles in a single season in MC history.
GSC All-Tournament Team for MC: Kamryn Eaton, Camryn Bailey, and Jordan LaFosse.
Watch on Monday, May 6th at 9 a.m. CST as MC awaits their fate for the NCAA tournament to find out whether they will be hosting or traveling for postseason.
