Gracie McDonald’s single and score, followed by Laynee Davis’ RBI single and Caitlyn Ludwig’s two-run single, led the Ocean Springs Lady Greyhounds to a 5-2 Region 4-7A softball win over the D’Iberville Lady Warriors on Thursday night in Ocean Springs.
It was the second time this week that Ocean Springs beat D’Iberville.
“I’m not going to lie we look defeated going into that inning (the sixth), but our girls came through and I’m so proud of them,” said Ocean Springs coach Lindsay O’Brien. “D’Iberville’s pitcher was dealing with her rise ball and movement. But the one thing we can do is put the ball in play and put pressure on the defense. That worked for us tonight.”
Emma Franklin of D’Iberville, who shut down Ocean Springs for five innings before giving up five runs in the sixth, went the distance and had 10 strikeouts.
The other part of the pitchers’ duel, Ocean Springs’ Brooklyn Peterson, held her own in allowing just two Lady Warriors to score. Peterson threw seven innings, scattering five hits and striking out four.
In the fourth inning, D’Iberville leadoff hitter and senior shortstop Maddie Porter started it off by doubling to left field. Layla Barnes laid down a perfect bunt and sacrificed Porter to third before Franklin came in and hit a deep fly to left. Porter tagged and scored to make the game 1-0. Catcher Annah Nicely homered over the fence in left-center to put the Lady Warriors ahead 2-0. The score remained that way until the sixth.
“Softball is a game of inches, and they had some things go right for them in the sixth and we didn’t and that was the difference in the outcome tonight,” said D’Iberville coach Scooter Prince. “I did a terrible job of preparing our team Monday when Ocean Springs came to our place. Tonight, the girls were prepared and battled tough. We just couldn’t overcome our mistakes in the sixth inning.”
Peterson walked to start the Ocean Springs sixth. Kerrigan Scott then tried to bunt her over but popped it up and D’Iberville’s Piper Rushing made a diving catch while charging in to keep Petersen at first. That’s when McDonald stepped up and hit a single, knocking in Peterson, and McDonald scored when the ball got away.
K’lee Gum then doubled to center, Farrah James walked, and Davis drove in Gum, giving Ocean Springs its first lead at 3-2. Zori Terry ran for Davis and Terry and James both scored on Ludwig’s single to right field.
Ocean Springs and D’Iberville both have two region losses, but with the Lady Greyhounds winning twice against the Lady Warriors, they have the tiebreaker in the region title race.
D’Iberville’s only shot is for St. Martin to beat Ocean Springs at home on Friday night.
If Ocean Springs wins, the Lady Greyhounds will be region champions and will face the No. 4 seed in Region 3 in the playoffs starting next week.
