May 1, 2005

Itta Bena, MS --- The Devilettes of Mississippi Valley State University repeat as softball champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference with a two game sweep (4-0, 5-3 ) of the Lady Jaguars of Southern University today at Devilettes Complex in Itta Bena, Mississippi.

After losing to the Lady Jaguars yesterday and holding an 0-2 record against them on the year the host Devilettes clearly entered the game as the underdog. However, Valley road the arm of All-SWAC pitcher and tournament MVP Jalana Brown and became the first team in the conference to ever repeat as champions.

In game one Brown shutdown and shutout the high scoring Lady Jag’s offense in a complete game performance. In seven innings she gave up 2 hits and no runs with 7 strikeouts. At the plate Tamara Phillips and Valeria Nicholson each had two hits for the Devilettes. Phillips went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Nicholson went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

In game two Valley took advantage of the Lady Jaguars indecisiveness on defense and played small ball all the way to a championship. Elizabeth Imbert had her most impressive outing of the season as she pitched five and one-third innings giving up two earned runs with four strikeouts. Imbert left the game in the top of the sixth inning to a standing ovation before Brown once again took the mound to the chant of M---V---P from the Valley faithful. Brown also swung the big stick for the Devilettes she went 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI and a score.

Brown led the way on the All-Tournament team as Valley and Southern each placed three representatives:

2005 SWAC SOFTBALL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

MVP - Jalana Brown - P - Miss. Valley State