Mia Davidson: The odds that Mia and Montana Davidson would play their final game at Mississippi State on Sunday were very strong. Thus, it would likely be their final game as teammates, something they’ve been since they were adolescents playing in Hillsborough. Instead, Mississippi State softball team pulled off the biggest upset of the NCAA Tournament, shocking #2 seeded Florida State in back-to-back games to win the Tallahassee Regional at JoAnne Graf Field in Florida.
It is the first regional championship in Mississippi State softball history. On top of that, the Bulldogs will host a Super Regional starting on Friday when they face Arizona in a best-of-three series at Nusz Park in Starkville.
In the opening game on Sunday, Mississippi State won 5-0. Davidson hit a solo home run in the 3rd inning. It was her 91st career home run, putting her in fifth place all-time in NCAA history. It was its first win over a top-three team since 2016. Davidson finished 1-for-2 with two walks.
In the seventh and deciding game, Davidson scored the game-winning run as the Bulldogs won 4-3. Chloe Malau’ulu singled up the middle and Davidson slid under the tag at the plate in the fifth inning. Davidson went 0-for-3 in the deciding game.
Mississippi State started the Tallahassee Regional with a loss to South Florida on Friday. She went 0-for-2. That loss meant that the Bulldogs had to win four games over a span of 28 hours in order to reach the Super Regional, which is exactly what they did. They started with a 6-3 win over Howard. Mia went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Later on Saturday afternoon, the Bulldogs eliminated South Florida 6-0. Mia went 0-for-4 with an RBI. Davidson knocked in Rylie Hull on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
Montana Davidson: In Mississippi State’s win over Howard, Montana Davidson started as the designated player. She helped knock in a run in the second inning when she sent a fly ball to right field, which was dropped. Montana scored after a fly ball hit by her younger sister, which was caught in left field. In Mississippi State’s final win over Florida State, Montana Davidson entered the game as a pinch-hitter. She also played against South Florida as a pinch-hitter on Friday.
Tori Dalehite: The UNC Greensboro softball team had a disappointing end to the season in the Southern Conference Tournament. After winning the Southern Conference regular season title, the Spartans were eliminated after losing twice to Chattanooga. In an elimination game against Samford on May 13, Dalehite scored a run as a pinch-runner off a double hit by Makeena Matthijs. The Mocs ended the Spartans season 9-7 on May 14. Dalehite also played as a pinch-runner. Dalehite played 29 games this season. She started 12, hitting .162.
Jaden Hurdle: Hurdle ended her career at Patrick & Henry Community College in the Region X, Division II Tournament. On May 11, the Patriots opened the tournament with a 8-0 win over Cleveland Community College in five innings. Hurdle went 1-for-3 with a run scored. In the second round, Pasco-Hernando State College defeated Patrick & Henry 14-6 in Richmond, VA. Southeastern Community College defeated the Patriots 8-3 to end their season on Sunday. In 43 games this season, Hurdle hit .376 with ten home runs and 37 RBIs. Hurdle will play at Division II Catawba College in Salisbury next year.
Grace Andrews: Andrews ended her career at Catawba Valley Community College last week. Southeastern Community College defeated the Red Hawks 5-2 in Henrico, VA. Andrews went 1-for-4 in her final game in Hickory. Catawba Valley ended the year 37-10.
Jaylin Jones: The Pfeiffer men’s lacrosse team had its season come to an end in the semifinals of the USA South Conference Tournament on May 7. Top-seeded Southern Virginia defeated the Falcons 13-11. In his final game, Jones assisted on a goal. He had six ground balls and created two turnovers. Pfeiffer concludes the season 12-4. This season, Jones played in 16 games for Pfeiffer. He scored three goals and added six assists. He had 49 ground balls and created 17 turnovers.