GRAMBLING, La. (February 26, 2019) – Mississippi Valley State softball won their first game of the 2019 season defeating Grambling State 10-6 at the GSU Softball Complex Tuesday evening. The second game of the doubleheader between the Devilettes and Lady Tigers was called in the bottom of the fifth inning due to darkness.

MVSU (1-9) notched 11 hits, scoring 10 runs with five doubles against Grambling in game one. Senior Dejanae Gage had a season-high three hits on a 3-for-4 effort at the plate including a double with a pair of RBI. Freshman Jade Arroyo recorded three RBI going 2-for-4 at the plate and freshman Jewel Unga was the third Devilette recording multiple hits on a 2-for-3 showing with an RBI.

Sophomore Alyssa Montes earned her first win of the season tossing a complete game striking out two Lady Tigers. Grambling finished with eight hits and drew five walks.

MVSU scored six runs on four hits and a GSU error in the first inning jumped out to an early advantage. Sophomore Kennedy Lester and junior Lexany Terrones scored on a fielding error by the Lady Tigers infield. Unga followed that with an RBI single through the left side scoring sophomore Deshonte Smith for a three-run lead. Then, Gage RBI doubled to left field scoring Arroyo followed by Unga crossing home on a fielder's choice. Their final run came on an RBI double to center field by junior Kailyn Dunn in an explosive opening inning for MVSU.

Runs in both the first and second innings by Grambling cut the MVSU lead to four, (6-2). The Lady Tigers tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth, but the Devilettes combined for six hits in the fifth and sixth innings and scored four additional runs.

Gage singled to first base scoring pinch runner freshman Laeni Terrones for a 7-4 contest in the fifth. While in the sixth inning, Smith blasted a two-run double to right center scoring freshman Brianna Alston and freshman Jaylon Davis. Arroyo came through with an RBI single through the left side scoring Smith for a 10-4 lead.

The second game of the doubleheader was suspended due to darkness and will potentially resume a later date. The Devilettes led 7-2 at the bottom of the fifth with two outs and the bases loaded full of Lady Tigers.

MVSU used a three-run second inning rally springing out to a hot start. Alston hammered a triple to center field and score while bringing in senior Dejanae Gage and junior Jaime Parmley. At the top of the fifth, a pair of hits led to four runs and a huge MVSU lead. A bases-loaded walk by freshman Cailyn Peterson scored Smith who also drew a walk to get on. Alston later singled up the middle for two RBI allowing Arroyo and Gage to score. Next, Dunn RBI singled up the middle scoring Peterson.

GSU had two hits and score a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, the game was called due to darkness.  Freshman pitcher Daisy Page recorded a team-best six strikeouts on the mound in 4.2 innings. She walked four, gave up three hits and one earned a run.

Alston shined with five RBI in the second game finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. Dunn was a perfect 3-for-3 and had an RBI.

Up next, the Devilettes with travel to Memphis, Tenn. for the 2019 Blues City Classic hosted by the University of Memphis on March 1-3. MVSU will play Loyola Chicago on Friday at 5:30 p.m., Tennessee-Martin on Saturday at 9 a.m., Memphis at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sam Houston on Sunday at 11:15 a.m.