POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 3 Pearl River softball team picked up two big wins Thursday afternoon at Wildcat Stadium, sweeping NJCAA DI foe Pensacola State, 6-0 and 4-2.
“I’m very proud of the girls tonight,” head coach Christie Meeks said. “They’re working so hard together. They want to win for each other as much as they want to win for themselves. It’s been special to watch all year long.”
GAME TWO
Pearl River (17-2 overall) handed the ball to Southern Miss signee Natalie Herrington (Petal) to open the day against Pensacola State (12-11), and she was in control from start to finish. The right-hander proceeded to throw a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits and striking out eight batters.
The Pirates nearly took the lead in the top of the second, starting off the inning with a leadoff double. Anna Kate Rounsaville (Gulfport) came up clutch for the Wildcats to follow, using quick reactions to snag a line drive destined for the left field corner and extra bases. Herrington picked up her fourth strikeout of the game to end the threat.
The long ball was good to the Wildcats in the bottom of the second. Peyton Hoffmayer (Ocean Springs) started the party, going down low into the zone and golfing a solo shot over the left field wall, 1-0. Bryn Daughtery (Vancleave) ripped a single, and Caroline Lindsey (Gulfport) followed by mashing a two-run home run over the left field wall, 3-0. The blast was the first of her Wildcat career.
The pitchers matched each other pitch-for-pitch over the next three innings, and Pearl River finally doubled its lead in the sixth. The Wildcats loaded up the bases, bringing up Lainee Bailey (Walker, La.). She sent a ball along the ground to the Pirate’s defense, and they opted to fire home to try to get the force out. The ball hit the catcher’s glove and fell to the ground for a run. A fielder’s choice off the bat of Hoffmayer plated another run, and finally, Rounsaville plated the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly, 6-0.
Herrington went right back out to the circle in the top of the seventh inning and worked around a one-out single to earn a complete-game shutout.
Hoffmayer went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run. Daughtery went 2-for-3 with a walk. Meadows also wrapped up her day with two hits. Lindsey went 1-for-4 but collected two RBIs on a home run.
GAME TWO
The Wildcats had a rough first inning against the Pirates, who turned a leadoff single into two runs from a crucial Wildcat error. PRCC was quick to respond on the offensive side, though. Natalie Toups (Brandon; Clinton Christian Academy), Bailey and Hoffmayer drew three straight walks to load the bases and bring up Daughtery. The fourth pitch thrown to her plunked her for an RBI. Rounsaville evened things up moments later, hitting into a run-scoring fielder’s choice.
Starting pitcher Bailey rebounded nicely from the first inning in the second. She forced two quick ground outs before the Pirates picked up two singles. She ensured the base hits didn’t matter, throwing three quick strikes to end the frame.
Pearl River took a lead that lasted the rest of the night in the bottom of the second. The Wildcats were content to go station-to-station as Alexa Womack (Prairieville, La.; Dutchtown), Madelyn Bourgoyne (Walker, La.), Morgan Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.; Central) and Toups knocked four-straight singles to plate the first run. Bailey helped her own cause moments later, pushing a sacrifice fly into left field, 4-2.
After the first two frames, Bailey was nearly untouchable. The Southeastern Louisiana transfer went on to allow just one baserunner over the course of the next five innings to finish with a complete-game victory, 4-2.
Toups was the only Wildcat to finish with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 with one run, one walk and one RBI.
Bailey tossed a complete game, allowing just two unearned runs on three hits and two walks. She struck out four batters.
UP NEXT
Pearl River goes on the road on Tuesday to play a neutral site game against Enterprise State. First pitch at the University of Mobile is set for noon.
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