Lady Wolves Split Doubleheader against Crowder College

WESSON – The Co-Lin Softball team played host to nationally ranked Crowder College on Wednesday, February 16, 2022. The No. 10 (Division II) Lady Wolves and the No. 18 (Division I) Roughriders split the doubleheader with the Lady Wolves taking game one, 8-0, and the Roughriders holding off a furious comeback effort from the Lady Wolves in game two, winning 11-10.

Game One

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the first inning when Maddie Weeks (Clinton) took one swing of the bat and smashed a solo home run down the left field line to give the Lady Wolves a 1-0 win. The bottom of the third inning was the big inning for the Lady Wolves as they plated three runs started with a lead-off single by Josie Meggs (Kosciusko) who then stole second while Madi Miller (Brookhaven) drew a walk. Meggs then stole third while Miller stole second and Meggs then scored on an RBI groundout while Miller then scored on a sacrifice fly by Madalyn Wilkinson (Madison) making the score 3-0. Weeks then drew a walk, stole second, and scored on a single by Cera Blanchard (Metarie, La.) giving the Lady Wolves a 4-0 lead.

The Lady Wolves added a pair of solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings as Shelbi Maxwell (Wesson) reached on an error to lead off the fourth inning and then later scored on a fielding error after stealing third base. In the fifth inning, Weeks hit a one-out single and then later scored on an RBI groundout by Mary Ansley Chrestman (Cleveland, Miss.).

The final two runs for the Lady Wolves came in the sixth inning as Bela Dekovic hit a lead-off single (Belle Chasse, La.) then Meggs ended the game with one swing of the bat depositing a walk-off two-run home run to center field to give the Lady Wolves the 8-0 win.

Cera Blanchard went 3-for-3 at the plate with one RBI while Maddie Weeks went 2-for-2 with one RBI, one home run, and drew one walk. Josie Meggs went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one home run while Bela Dekovic went 1-for-2 and drew one walk.

Cera Blanchard got the start in the circle for the Lady Wolves and improved to 2-0 in the complete game effort pitching all six innings allowing two hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.

Game Two

The Lady Wolves started their scoring early as they plated three runs in the first inning as Maddie Weeks got the offense going with a two-out single. Madalyn Wilkinson then drew a walk and Cera Blanchard was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Weeks, Wilkinson, and Blanchard all scored on a single by Belle West (Byram) giving the Lady Wolves an early 3-0 lead.

Another three-run inning in the second increased the Lady Wolves lead to 6-1 after the Roughriders scored one run in the top half. Skyler Speights (Monticello) drew a lead-off walk and then advanced to third on a bunt single by Madi Miller. Speights then scored on a single by Faith Kivett (Tallulah, La.). Miller then scored on an error while Kivett scored on a single by Wilkinson.

The big inning for the Roughriders came in the third as they plated eight runs to take a 9-6 lead over the Lady Wolves. The Roughriders then held the Lady Wolves scoreless in the third and fourth innings while adding a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to increase the lead to 11-6. The Lady Wolves comeback effort started in the bottom of the fifth as they scored a solo run with Blanchard reaching base on an error and then being replaced by Shelbi Maxwell as a courtesy runner. Maxwell then scored on a double by Speights making the score 11-7.

The Lady Wolves added another solo run in the bottom of the sixth as Miller and Kivett hit back-to-back singles while Weeks drew a walk to load the bases then Miller scored as Blanchard was hit-by-pitch for the second time in the game making the score 11-8. The final two runs for the Lady Wolves came in the seventh inning as Meggs drew a lead-off walk then stole second and later scored on a single by Miller. Kivett then reached base as Miller was called out on the play due to interference, while Weeks drew a walk to put two runners on with two outs. Kivett then scored on a single by Wilkinson advancing Weeks to third. Wilkinson then stole second to give the Lady Wolves the winning run on second base, but a strikeout ended the game and gave the Roughriders the 11-10 win.

Madi Miller went 3-for-5 at the plate, Madalyn Wilkinson went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and drawing one walk, and Faith Kivett went 2-for-5 with one RBI. Maddie Weeks, Belle West, and Skyler Speights all got one hit each with Speights hitting one double and West collecting two RBIs while Weeks drew two walks.

Belle West got the start in the circle for the Lady Wolves and pitched 2.1 innings in the no decision effort allowing six runs, five earned, on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Madalyn Wilkinson pitched 4.2 innings in relief and picked up the loss (0-1) allowing five runs, three earned, on four hits with one strikeout and two walks.

The Lady Wolves are now 3-1 on the season and will return to action playing in the Sun Chief Classic in Gulf Shores, Alabama on Friday, February 18, and Saturday, February 19. The Lady Wolves will play Chattanooga State Community College at 3:45 p.m., and Gulf Coast State College at 6 p.m., on Friday and then will play Shelton State at 11: 15 a.m., and Coastal Alabama East at 1:30 p.m., on Saturday.