CLINTON, Miss. — Mississippi College (11-8-1, 4-2) split a Gulf South Conference doubleheader with Union University (6-11, 3-3) on Saturday at the MC Softball Complex, earning a 1-0 shutout in the opener before falling 5-4 in the finale.
In Game 1, the Choctaws pushed across the lone run of the contest in the fifth inning. Ashlyn Rodgers drew a leadoff walk and advanced following a fielder's choice by Lydia Bethards. Morgan Lavergne delivered a double to right field to move Bethards to third, and Shelby Samples followed with a groundout to shortstop that brought home the game's only run.
Reagan Rios was dominant in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout. The junior allowed just three hits, struck out eight and did not issue a walk. With the win, Rios improved to 2-2 on the season and lowered her WHIP to 0.43.
Lavergne's double highlighted the Choctaws' offense, while Samples added the RBI and a walk. Hadley Lemons contributed a stolen base and was hit by a pitch as MC secured the 1-0 victory.
In the nightcap, Union struck first in the second inning. C. Jones scored on a wild pitch before M. Hildebran crossed home on a single by C. Goddard to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
Mississippi College responded in the third when Sarah Lee tripled to center field and Bethards followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Choctaws surged ahead in the fourth. Madelyn England launched a solo home run to tie the game. Later in the inning, Megan Matheis delivered a pinch-hit double, and pinch runner Kallee Nichols scored on a two-run homer from Blakely Gill to give MC a 4-2 advantage.
Union rallied in the seventh, scoring three runs to reclaim the lead and secure the 5-4 win.
Grace Wallis worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs while striking out two. AK Willingham and Camryn Bailey provided relief.
England finished with a home run and an RBI, while Gill recorded two hits and drove in two runs. Lee added a triple and scored once, and Matheis provided a key extra-base hit off the bench.
Mississippi College now sits at 11-8-1 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while Union moves to 6-11 and 3-3 in the GSC.
The Choctaws return to action March 6-7 with a three-game Gulf South Conference road series against No. 4 Auburn University Montgomery in Montgomery, Ala. The series opens with a doubleheader Friday at 3 p.m. CT and 5 p.m. CT, followed by a single game Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
