April 18, 2007

CLINTON -- Ranked No. 16 in the latest NFCA Division III Poll, the homestanding Mississippi College Lady Choctaws edged the visitors from Millsaps 2-1 in the opener before run-ruling the Majors 8-0 in five innings in the nightcap to eclipse the 30-win plateau and run their non-conference winning streak total to nine games.

Millsaps (11-23, 6-6 SCAC) lit up the scoreboard first, plating a run in the second inning to go up 1-0, when freshman Kasey Thibodeaux reached base on a leadoff single and was driven in by junior Jessica Clincy off a two-out single.

MS College (30-6, 16-4 ASC) waisted little time responding, using a leadoff walk, a sac bunt and a bunt single to put runners on second and third with one out. From there, junior Anna Lindsey delivered what turned out to be the game-winning runs, scoring both runners on a two-RBI single to put the Lady Choctaws on top for good, 2-1.

Junior Katie Perry earned her 13th win of the season in a complete game performance, scattering four hits, four strikeouts and one run for the win.

Perry also surrendered seven walks on the evening, but the Majors couldn't take advantage of the free passes, leaving nine runners stranded on base in the affair.

In the nightcap the Lady Choctaws got a strong pitching performance from senior Kayla Watkins, who drove in the first run of the game, and benefited from eight runs off 11 hits for the run-rule victory in five innings.

Two MS College runs in the first inning off an RBI-groundout and an RBI-double and five in the third was more than enough for Watkins to pick up her conference tying and team-leading 15th victory of the year against only three losses.

Seniors Josie Manley and Renee Hebert and freshman Sam Hill were responsible for the three Millsaps hits, which were all singles.

Five Lady Choctaws recorded multiple hits, with Randi Moak, Reagan Jackson, Michelle Cochran, Nikki McClaskey and Lindsey doing the damage from the plate. McClaskey also led both teams with two RBIs.

Millsaps will take a week off in preparations for the SCAC Tournament April 27-29 in San Antonio, Texas. The Majors will be the SCAC West's No. 3 seed and will likely face Rhodes or Centre College in the opening round on Friday.