Box Score CLEVELAND – The Mississippi Valley State Devilettes pitching staff retired 12-of-14 Delta State hitters from the second through the fourth inning to hold on for a 4-3 win Tuesday night at University Field.
 
The Lady Statesmen (8-7) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, when Jordan Cole advanced two bases following a failed pickoff attempt by MVSU (9-9) catcher Xiomara Perez.
 
The Devilettes answered with a big top of the second, after Alexandra Sullivan, who reached on an error scored on an RBI double. Hobbs, who drove in Sullivan, scored on a failed double steal attempt with runners on first and third.
 
MVSU scored its third run of the contest in the top of the third with an RBI double down the left field line by Perez. Jessika Sandoval drove in what proved to be the winning run in the top of the sixth with an RBI double that scored Rachelle Harris from first base.
 
DSU got back in the contest in the bottom of the sixth when pinch hitter Marisa Sanders greeted new pitcher Kimberly Spivey with a two RBI single to right field.
 
Brittany Gonzales pitched the only three up, three down inning of the contest for DSU in the top of the seventh in a relief effort.
 
Spivey induced an Ashleigh Allgood groundout with a runner on first to end the contest.
 
Allgood (5-3) took the loss. Alicia Lorenz picked up the win for Valley, working 3.1 innings.
 
The Lady Statesmen were held to seven total hits in the contest, while MVSU finished with 10.
 
DSU will return to action on Thursday, March 8 for a 1 doubleheader with former Gulf South Conference member Southern Arkansas University. First pitch in Magnolia is scheduled for 1 p.m.