Mississippi Valley State eliminated by No. 1 seeded UCLA 70-29

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Freshman Kevin Love scored 20 points as top-seeded UCLA (32-3) cruised to victory against overmatched Mississippi Valley State.

Mississippi Valley State (17-16) scored the fewest points in the tournament since 1946, when Baylor had 29 in a loss to Oklahoma State. The Delta Devils also set a tournament record for fewest points in a first-round game, breaking the mark of 32 by Wisconsin against Missouri State in 1999.

JCJC tennis team defeats Copiah Lincoln Community College Thursday

ELLISVILLE — The Jones County Junior College Bobcat men’s tennis team improved to 5-2 with an 8-1 victory over the Co-Lin Community College Wolves here on a gorgeous Thursday afternoon.

The Bobcats and Lady Bobcats will return to the court with a 2 p.m. home match on Tuesday vs. Holmes.

Bobcats 8, Wolves 1

Jones swept all of the doubles matches.

In No. 1 doubles, JCJC‚s Casey Dykes and Cale Pastorek beat Joey Ratcliff and Jeffie Smith, 8-4. Brian Martin and Miles Nerren of Jones took No. 2 doubles over Justin Hewitt and Nick Hatten, 8-5. Bobcats‚ Chris Guizerix and Aaron Stricklin claimed No. 3 doubles over Aaron Walker and Kevin Weldon, 8-5.

In No. 1 singles, Co-Lin‚s Ratcliff defeated Dykes, 3-6, 6-3, 10-1. In No. 2 singles, JCJC‚s Pastorek beat Hatten, 6-3, 6-3. Nerren of Jones took No. 3 singles over Hewitt, 6-3, 7-6 (0), while JCJC‚s Martin won No. 4 singles over Smith, 2-6, 7-5, 10-1. JCJC‚s Guizerix claimed No. 5 singles over Walker, 6-2, 6-4. Jonathan Myrick of the Bobcats won No. 6 singles over Weldon, 6-2, 6-0.

More awards for Mississippi State’s Bowen

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s Ricky Bowen has picked up two more national honors in addition to being named the Southeastern Conference’s pitcher of the week. Those honors come after he nearly threw a no-hitter Sunday in a 4-0 win over Mississippi.

MSU on Wednesday announced the College Baseball Foundation named Bowen to its weekly National All-Star Lineup while the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association selected Bowen as its Pro-Line Athletic National Pitcher of the Week. Earlier, Collegiate Baseball newspaper selected him as a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week.

Bowen struck out 11, retired the first 14 batters he faced and carried the no-hitter into the ninth inning. After giving up two hits, including an infield single, in the ninth inning, he struck out the final batter with the bases loaded to preserve the win.

No. 13 William Carey softball splits with Spring Hill

Hattiesburg — No. 13 William Carey University opened Gulf Coast Athletic Conference play with a double header split with Spring Hill College falling in game one, 4-1 and taking game two, 8-1.

In game one, the Lady Badgers got on the board first in the top of the third with an RBI single by Jessica Walters and RBI sac fly from Luaren Herrera. Carey used a two out rally in the bottom half of the third to score one run thanks to an RBI single from Bree Neidhardt which cut the Lady Badger lead to 2-1.

In the top of the sixth inning with one on and two out Lady Badger right fielder Jessica Feilder was injured during her at bat but pinch hitter Carlene Bolton stepped in and new what to do as she smacked a massive two run home run to put the Lady Badgers up 4-1.

Carey mounted a small rally in the seventh but was unable to score any runs.

Brittany Ladner took the loss in game one for the Lady Crusaders.

Carey finally got the bats going in game two. Carey started things off in the top of the first inning with three straight singles and double by Jill Wedgeworth to put the Lady Crusaders up 2-0. Carey added two more base runners to load the bases then starting pitcher Devin King ripped a bases clearing double to put the Lady Crusaders up 5-0. Tan Montgomery capped the scoring in the first inning with an RBI single to score King.

That was more than enough support for King as she allowed only four hits and one run with five strikeouts in a complete game effort as Carey knocked of the Lady Badgers 8-1.

Carey now stands at 21-4 and 1-1 in GCAC.

Heidelberg Academy hands Newton Academy 14-3 loss

The Heidelberg Academy Rebels reached the double-digit win mark Thursday night when they defeated Newton Academy 14-3.

The win brought the team to 10-3 on the season.

Colby Reeves pitched the win for the Rebels, giving him a 3-1 record on the season. Newton’s Landon Burt got the loss.

Blake Denham led the Heidelberg Academy batters with a double and a two-run homer. Colby Smith added a single and a double while Steven Peebles and Joseph Collins all hit a two-bagger a piece.

Reeves, Jamie Keenan and Derek Beech all added a single.

The Rebels head to Hoover, Ala. Friday for a tournament and will return to area action against Calvary Christian Thursday, March 27.

—From Staff and Wire Reports