POPLARVILLE — Defending MACJC South Division softball champ Copiah-Lincoln whalloped Pearl River 0-2 and 15-4 to open both squads’ league schedule here Wednesday in Lady Wildcat Stadium.
PRCC dropped to 8-9 overall and 0-2 in the division with the doubleheader sweep, while Co-Lin improved to 14-1 and 2-0.
Both losses ended via the eight-run rule with visiting CLCC scoring all of its runs in the first game in the fifth and sixth frames, while putting up all of its 15 runs in the first five innings before the Lady Wildcats finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth and final frame of the nightcap.
In the opening contest, Pearl River’s Maghan James of Oak Grove cracked a two-out double in the bottom of the first to set the stage for an RBI triple by Erin Brown of Prairieville, La., to put the Lady Wildcats up 1-0. Co-Lin left runners stranded at second and third in the top of the second and a runner at third in the third. In the bottom of the third, PRCC had runners at first and third when Brown flew out.
Kelli Williams of West Marion led off the bottom of the fourth with a double, moved to second off a sacrifice bunt by Kim Kelly of Oak Grove; then Nikki Breland of Poplarville High was belted by a pitch. Williams was thrown out at home before Co-Lin starter Emily Horne recorded her second of three strikeouts with courtesy runner Amber Smith of Meridian perched on third.
The Lady Wolves took the lead for good in the top of the fifth when Jessica Melton and Megan Bateman cracked back-to-back one-out singles, then Jackie Stowe smashed a three-run homer over the left field fence to put Co-Lin up 3-1. Pearl River added its final run in the bottom of the frame when Kerri Knight of Poplarville, who led off the inning with a single, scored on a wild pitch.
Copiah-Lincoln padded it lead by four in the top of the sixth off three straight singles by Beth Smith, Brandi Bridges, and Amber Beeson; a walk, an RBI double by Bateman, and a bases-loaded squeeze bunt by Holly Pyles. Two more base on balls pushed in two more runs to make it 8-2 before Lady Wildcat starter Whitney Vamos of Poplarville High exited the mound for reliever Jennifer Sims of Pascagoula who immedately gave up a two-RBI double to Bridges to make it 10-2.
Horne was the winning pitcher in going the distance, striking out three and walking none; while Vamos was the loser in her five-and two-thirds innings (four strikeouts, three walks). Sims faced two batters in relief.
Melton paced Co-Lin’s 11-hit effort with a double and a single, while Bateman and Angie Davis had two singles each. Stowe homered and Bridges, Beeson, Beth Smith, and Pyles all singled.
PRCC finished with eight hits, led by James’ double and single; while Brown tripled, Williams doubled, and Kelly, Knight, Kellie Seal, and Nikki Breland all singled.
In the nightcap, the Lady Wildcats actually out hit the Lady Wolves 8-6; but Co-Lin benefitted from three PRCC errors and a whopping 12 base on balls.
CLCC lead off batter Melton’s walk to open the game foretold things to come. After a wild pick off throw to first, Melton wound up and third and eventually scored on a passed ball; then the Lady Wildcats first error of the game saw Davis wind up on second and another run score for the visitors. A wild pitch by Lady Wildcat starter Sims scored the third and final run of the first before the freshman struck out Stacy Smith (Sim’s second of five strikeouts in the game) to get out of the inning.
The Lady Wolves padded their lead by two in the second off three walks, a passed ball, and an RBI single by Bateman, then added two more in the third off a walk, an RBI double by Beeson, and an RBI single by Melton.
After Sims walked two straight to open the fourth, Vamos arrived in relief. Co-Lin made it 8-0 off an error, then a passed ball added another run. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases and another wild pitch scored the Lady Wolves 10th run.
Pearl River went three-up, three-down in the bottom of the fourth, then Co-Lin added its final five runs of the afternoon. Lead off batter Stowe wound up on second base via a PRCC error, then a walk and a passed ball made it 11-0. Mandy Vinson was then belted by a pitch, setting the stage for Pyles’ RBI double to make it 12-0 an out later. Another out later, Beeson smashed a two-RBI double, then Melton walked. Bateman drove in CLCC’s final run with a single.
The River didn’t roll over and die, however, as Knight led off the bottom of the final frame with a single, stole second, and scored off Seal’s single. An out later, James and Brown cracked back-to-back singles and James made it 15-2 when she scored off a passed ball. Williams followed with a two-run homer to end the scoring.
Again, Horne picked up the win in going the distance, while Sims was the loser in her three innings; striking out five and walking eight. Vamos struck our one, walked four, and hit a batter in relief.
Bateman’s two singles led Co-Lin’s six-hit effort, while Melton, Pyles, Beeson, and Stacy Smith all singled.
Seal, James, and Brown had two singles a piece for the Lady Wildcats; while Williams homered and Kelly singled.
It’s more division action for Pearl River Saturday when it travels to Mississippi Gulf Coast in Perkinston for an 11 a.m. doubleheader.