Playoff softball comes to Perk on Wednesday

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast will get open the softball postseason in the friendly confines of Ross-Smith Field on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs will entertain Northwest Mississippi in an NJCAA Region 23 Tournament play-in game at 3 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.

Gulf Coast (34-21) is the seven seed in the tournament, with the Rangers finishing the season 26-18 to earn the 10-seed. The winner of Wednesday’s game will advance to the Ellisville Regional, which starts Friday.

There are two Region 23 tournaments, with each champion earning an automatic spot in the NJCAA championship. The two winners will play for the Gulf District championship on May 11, and the region expects to get one of the new at-large bids in the national championship in addition to the two automatic spots.

Gulf Coast and Northwest split their MACCC doubleheader on April 19, with the Bulldogs winning the opener 8-0 in five innings. The Rangers won the second game 8-7. Olivia Falcon (Fr., St. Amant, La./St. Amant) threw a three-hitter for the win, which saw AB Parrish (Fr., Corinth/Alcorn Central) drive in five runs. Jorja Roberson (So., Branyan/East Union) had two doubles in the second game.

Wednesday’s winner will play host Jones on Friday at 3 p.m. The Bobcats are the second seed in the region. Barring weather complications, the regional will conclude Sunday.

NJCAA Region 23 Softball Tournament

Ellisville

Friday, May 3

Game 1: No. 2 Jones vs. No. 7 Gulf Coast-No. 10 Northwest Mississippi winner, 3 p.m.

Game 2: No. 3 Pearl River vs. No. 6 East Central, 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 4

Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.

Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 4 p.m.

Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 5

Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 2 p.m.

Game 7 (if necessary): Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser

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