May 14, 2007

Baton Rouge, LA -- Mississippi Valley State captured its fourth consecutive SWAC Softball Tournament Title with a 4-1 victory over Southern University in Game 11 of the four-day event.

Southern defeated MVSU 1-0 in Game 10 to force the necessary and deciding game. In Game 10, Southern pitcher Jennifer Hodrick pitched a three-hit shutout while teammate Tiffiany Darville used an RBI double to score Courtney Chappell in the first inning. In the second game on Sunday, the Devilettes used a three-run rally with two outs in the fifth inning to clinch the title.

MVSU outfielder Shaina Mitchell was named Tournament Most Outstanding Player with a superb performance over the four days of play. She finished the tournament 8-for-14 from the plate with two homers (one a game winner), five runs, four RBIs and three doubles. She had a hand in seven of the Devilettes runs scored and accounted for the winning run in each of MVSU's three tournament wins. She was especially key during Sunday's deciding game as she was 3-for-3 (solo HR in the 1st, single in the 3rd, and a double in the 5th).

All-tournament team

Nikki Stouder, Mississippi Valley State

Jennifer Hodrick, Southern

Debra Borcherding, Alabama A&M

Jana Dias, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Ebony Stevenson, Jackson State

Courtney Chappell, Southern

Mary Cortez, Texas Southern

Candy Shumpert, Mississippi Valley State

Shaina Mitchell, Mississippi Valley State

Most outstanding player -- Shaina Mitchell, Mississippi Valley State

SWAC Coach of the Year -- Lee Smith, Mississippi Valley State