Harrell, Necaise pitch Bulldogs to sweep

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast got a pair of complete games Thursday in a sweep of East Mississippi at Ross-Smith Field.

Jett Harrell (So., Clarksdale/Lee Academy) threw a six-hitter to beat the Lions 3-2 in the opener, and Kylee Necaise (So., Gulfport/West Harrison) allowed just three earned runs in an 11-6 win.

“Jett and Kylee pitched really well,” Gulf Coast coach David Kuhn said. “We made some plays in the field. I wished we’d scored more runs in the first game, but I was pleased with how we played. The second game, we made a couple mistakes. They’re a good club and have beaten some good teams, and I was nervous late. I’m happy with the win, but I don’t feel like we played 14 innings of softball today.”

Gulf Coast (27-13, 9-4 MACCC) is now in fifth place in the conference.

Olivia Keith (So., Crestview, Fla./Crestview) tied the game at 1 with a second-inning RBI single, and it stayed that way until the sixth. Harrell led off the inning with a double, then scored on a double steal. Aleah Beaugez (Fr., D’Iberville/D’Iberville) drove in an insurance run with a double of her own.

Harrell, who had two hits at the plate, walked only one batter to record the win.

Gulf Coast fell behind 3-1 in the third inning of Game 2, but responded immediately to a three-spot in the top of the frame. Savannah Wilbanks (Fr., Southaven/DeSoto Central) singled in two runs to tie it, and Irina Sanford (Fr., Lucedale/George County) hit a ball through the left side for the go-ahead run.

Jorja Roberson (So., Branyan/East Union) smacked a grand slam to cap a seven-run outburst.

After EMCC (12-14, 4-8) cut the lead to 8-6, Wilbanks sparked another Bulldog outburst with an RBI double. Abi Williams (So., Columbia/Columbia Academy) had a pinch-hit RBI single, and Shaylynn Hoak (Fr., Vancleave/Vancleave) finished the scoring with a double.

Gulf Coast hits the road Wednesday for a doubleheader at East Central. First pitch in Decatur is set for 3 p.m.

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