Itta Bena, Miss.— The Mississippi Valley State Devilettes softball team dropped their season opener, 5-2, to the Lady Blazers of the University of Alabama-Birmingham in the first NCAA Division I softball game of the 2008 season.
The Devilettes staked a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a solo home run by second baseman Angelia Jones. However, with two outs in the top of the sixth, Jones would commit an error that would lead to five unearned runs from which the Devilettes could not recover.
Valley was led at the plate by Jones who finished two-for-three with a run scored and two RBI’s. On the mound Nikki Stouder went six innings for the loss giving up no earned runs with five strikeouts.
The Lady Blazers had three players with multiple hits including Caley Walden (2-4, run, 2 RBI’s), Holly Krazen (2-4, RBI) and Stevie Bennett (2-3, run, RBI). On the mound Jennifer Nelson picked up the win as she finished the complete game with seven strikeouts while giving up two earned runs.
