CLINTON, Miss. — Mississippi College freshman catcher Blakely Gill made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut, earning both Gulf South Conference Player and Freshman of the Week honors, the league office announced Tuesday.

Gill delivered a dominant performance at the plate, hitting .846 (11-for-13) across the opening weekend while driving in 12 runs and scoring four times. The Carthage, Miss., native posted a 1.615 slugging percentage, registering two doubles, a triple, and two home runs, including a grand slam.

Her weekend was highlighted by back-to-back 3-for-3 outings on Saturday as the Choctaws split the day against Southern Arkansas and Washburn. Against Washburn, she tallied five RBI and belted two home runs in a narrow 10-7 loss.

"Blakely walked into her first college softball weekend the same way she walks into every day—with a big smile and a relentless work ethic," said head coach Leigh Streetman. "Watching her hard work pay off and seeing her step into her own was special. This weekend was full of moments that made us proud—growth, energy, and a whole lot of excitement for what's ahead. Now, it's time to get back to work and turn that momentum into something even bigger as we gear up for the Chillout tournament."

Gill's outstanding debut weekend places her among the top early performers in Division II softball and sets the tone for the season ahead for the Choctaws.

Mississippi College returns to action this weekend at the Chillout tournament, where they will look to build on their early-season momentum.