Bulldogs rally late for split

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast’s furious seventh-inning rally Wednesday afternoon salvaged a split against Shelton State.

The Bulldogs scored three times in the seventh, punctuated by a walk-off walk by Olivia Keith, to win 6-5. The Bucs won the opener 5-4.

Gulf Coast (11-9) trailed 4-2 headed to the bottom of the sixth, and Abi Williams (So., Columbia/Columbia Academy) made it a one-run game with an RBI groundout.

Shelton State (6-13) tacked on another run in the seventh to restore the two-run lead. Jorja Roberson (So., Branyan/East Union) singled to lead the rally off, and Kamryn LaFosse (So., Lake Charles, La./Sam Houston) walked.

Irina Sanford (Fr., Lucedale/George County) delivered a one-out RBI infield single, and Shaylynn Hoak (Fr., Vancleave/Vancleave) followed with another infield single. When the shortstop threw the ball away, LaFosse scored to tie the game.

Aleah Beaugez (Fr., D’Iberville/D’Iberville) walked to load the bases, and after a groundout, Keith drew a five-pitch walk to win it.

Hoak and Roberson had two hits in the second game. Hoak tripled, and AB Parrish (Fr., Corinth/Alcorn Central) had a double.

Gulf Coast trailed the first game 4-1 after three, but scored once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to tie it up. The Bucs got the go-ahead run in the seventh, and Gulf Coast couldn’t answer.

LaFosse, Sanford and Beaugez had two hits, and Sanford doubled.

Gulf Coast will start the Bulldog Invitational a day early with a doubleheader Thursday. MGCCC plays Bishop State, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. Buy your tickets ahead of time to save money. It costs $7 for adults or $5 for youth online, or $10 and $7 at the gate. Tickets are available at http://mgcccbulldogs.com/tickets, and the game will be streamed at https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch. 

For more information on MGCCC’s 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.