POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 8 Pearl River softball team used two excellent pitching performances to sweep its No. 17 Gulf Coast rival on Tuesday night. Pearl River won the opener 6-0 and then won the final drink 5-1 to extend their winning streak to six games in a row. The sweep is the first for the Wildcats over the Bulldogs since the 2018 season.
“I’m so proud of our girls,” said head coach Christie Meeks. “This team doesn’t let anything get to them and they’ve been steady in everything they’ve done. Our energy was electric tonight from the canoe to the field. We got fired up and stayed that way and it was great to keep seeing them grow.
Meeks spoke about Pearl River’s timely strike after the game.
“One point is not enough against an offense like Gulf Coast,” she said. “In rivalry games, crazy things can happen, so insurance runs were a key focus for us.”
Prior to the doubleheader, the Wildcats honored those who served and are currently serving in the military as part of their Military Appreciation Day.
“We are so grateful to all the men and women who came out tonight to be part of our special night,” Meeks said.
FIRST GAME
Both pitchers started Game 1 relatively easily, retiring the team in order in the first. BrissonAnne Rogers (Statesboro, Ga.) walked the leadoff batter in the second but proceeded to retire the next three Gulf Coast batters (14-15 overall; 6-4 MACCC) to end the threat. Pearl River (18-9; 8-2) charged the bases late in the set but was turned away via a double play.
After Rogers again retired the team in order, the Wildcats broke through in the bottom of the third with a Hannah Miller (Kokomo; West Marion) sacrificed fly that scored Emilie Rigney (Waynesboro; Wayne County).
Rogers’ 20-game no-hitter streak ended in the fourth as the Bulldogs caught back-to-back hits. The right-hander bounced back striking back-to-back batters to end the threat.
Pearl River struck again in the bottom of the fifth as Miller threw a fly ball over the left field wall for his fifth homer of the season, extending the 2-0 lead. The Wildcats weren’t done there as two more runs went through the plate to make it 4-0 after Keigan Pearson (Carriere; Pearl River Central) lifted a fly ball to right field that was misplayed by outfielder Bulldog, scoring Janna Peterson (Poplarville) and Cassidy Cartwright (Polarville).
Pearl River extended the lead to sixth with another sacrificial fly from Miller that scored Rigney and a flyball par Julianah Overstreet (Vancleave) who rolled up and pulled out the diving centre-back’s glove and allowed Taylor York (Choctaw; Clinton Christian Academy) to score.
Rogers came in and retired two of three batters to close the door and give Pearl River a 6-0 victory in Game 1.
Rogers teeed off and kicked a complete shutout, striking out 12 in the process.
Miller was a force for Pearl River in Game 1, picking up a hit and leading in three runs.
“Hannah had a day in Game 1,” Meeks said. “She’s really gone and we’re proud of her and her consistency.”
York and Pearson finished second on the team with two hits. Rigney led the team with three hits. She also scored two points. Dallyn Nance (Nanih Waiya) and Overstreet finished with one success each.
SECOND GAME
Hannah Embry (Vicksburg; Porter’s Chapel) found themselves in trouble in the first after a Bulldog hitter hit a double, but a clutch pitch and strong defense ended the threat.
Gulf Coast struck late in the second on a groundout to take a 1-0 lead.
From there, a pitching duel ensued with both teams running in and out of traffic.
The Wildcats tied the game at fifth after Payton Lee (Picayune; Pearl River Central) tripled to start the inning and then came back to score on a York single.
Pearl River took the lead in the sixth with a big offensive explosion. It started with three straight wins from Nance, Overstreet and Aunie Rethmeyer (Belle Chasse, Louisiana) that gave the Wildcats a 2-1 lead. The score continued as Madi Waters (Laurel; West Jones) scored on a passed ball and Bethany Fewell (Mendenhall) was hit by a pitch to increase the lead to 4-1. The score ended with a walk from York which brought home Kallie Hunt (Picayune) and gave the Wildcats a 5-1 lead.
After two Bulldogs reached the top of the seventh, Rogers came on in relief from Embry and retired the last two batters to give Pearl River the win, 5-1.
Embry was stellar for Pearl River, pitching 6 1/3 innings with three strikeouts. She constantly got by relying on her defense.
“Hannah threw the ball fantastically,” Meeks said. “They had an early hit and ended up scoring. They’re a great team who are extremely tough in attack, and I think they’ve done a fantastic job of keeping them off balance.
York and Lee led the team in hits with two apiece. Nance, Overstreet and Rethmeyer all finished with a hit. York led the way with two RBIs.
Rethmeyer and Fewell both finished with one RBI apiece.
youP NEXT
The Wildcats hit the road Saturday to face East Mississippi. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m. and the games will be broadcast live at EMCCAthletic.com/live.
For the latest Pearl River Community College athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@PRCCathletics) and Facebook (PRCCathletics).