Lady Wolves Take First Conference Loss in Split with Lady Warriors

WESSON – The No.1 Co-Lin Softball team returned to action playing host to East Central on Tuesday, April 12. The Lady Wolves and Lady Warriors split the doubleheader as the Lady Warriors gave the Lady Wolves their first loss in MACCC play by taking game one, 8-7, while the Lady Wolves rebounded for an 11-2 win in game two.

Game One

The Lady Wolves got off to an early lead with one run in the bottom of the first as Faith Kivett (Tallulah, La.) drew a lead-off walk, stole second, then stole third and scored on an error during the play making the score, 1-0.

The Lady Warriors then tied the game at 1-1 with a solo run in the top of the fourth. However, the Lady Wolves regained the lead with a single run in the bottom half of the inning as Josie Meggs (Kosciusko) drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bela Dekovic (Belle Chasse, La.) and then scored on a two-base error on the play making the score, 2-1.

The Lady Warriors then scored six runs in the top of the fifth as the Lady Wolves made five errors during the inning and trailed 7-2 heading to the bottom of the fifth. However, the Lady Wolves would fight back starting with three runs in the bottom of the fifth as Maddie Weeks (Clinton) and Madalyn Wilkinson (Madison) drew back-to-back walks with one out to get the offense going. Weeks and Wilkinson then stole third and second respectively while Weeks then scored on two-out RBI-single by Shelbi Maxwell (Wesson) making the score 7-3. Maxwell then stole second and both Wilkinson and Maxwell later scored on a two-RBI single by Dekovic making the score 7-5.

The Lady Warriors increased their lead to 8-5 with a solo run in the top of the sixth. The Lady Wolves then pulled to within one run with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Madi Miller (Brookhaven) drew a one-out walk and then Weeks took one swing of the bat and drove a 2-1 pitch over the centerfield fence for her team-leading eighth home run of the season making the score, 8-7.

The Lady Warriors were then retired in order in the top of the seventh as the Lady Wolves came to bat in the bottom half of the inning trailing 8-7. However, the Lady Wolves were retired in order as the Lady Warriors took game one by a final of 8-7.

Faith Kivett, Maddie Weeks, Shelbi Maxwell, Josie Meggs, and Bela Dekovic had one hit apiece as the Lady Wolves totaled five hits including one home run for Weeks. Weeks and Dekovic led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with two while Maxwell had one RBI.

Cera Blanchard (Metairie, La.) got the start for the Lady Wolves and took the loss in the complete game effort falling to 17-2 with seven innings pitched allowing eight runs, one earned, on eight hits with seven strikeouts.

Game Two

The Lady Wolves once again got off to an early lead with one run in the bottom of the first as Faith Kivett drew a lead-off walk, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Madi Miller, and then scored on an RBI-single by Shelbi Maxwell making the score 1-0.

The Lady Warriors then tied the game at 1-1 with a single run in the top of the third. However, the Lady Wolves responded with a huge inning of their own in the bottom of the third as they exploded for nine runs as Josie Meggs hit a lead-off double and then advanced to third on a single by Mary Ansley Chrestman (Cleveland). Meggs then scored on an RBI-single by Kivett, while Chrestman and then scored on an error while Miller singled and Kivett also scored on the play making the score, 4-1. Weeks then took one swing of the bat and smashed an 0-1 pitch over the centerfield fence for her second two-run home run of the doubleheader (her ninth of the season) giving the Lady Wolves a 6-1 lead. Maxwell then followed with a single while Bela Dekovic and Meggs drew back-to-back walks with two outs to load the bases. Maxwell then scored on a single by Chrestman. After Dekovic scored on a passed ball, Meggs and Chrestman scored on a two-RBI triple by Kivett increasing the Lady Wolves lead to 10-1.

The Lady Warriors added their final run of the game with a single run in the top of the fourth. The Lady Wolves regained their nine-run lead with a single run in the bottom half of the inning as Weeks drew a lead-off walk and later scored on a single by Maxwell making the score, 11-2.

The Lady Warriors were then retired in order in the top of the fifth to seal th 11-2 win for the Lady Wolves earning a split of the doubleheader.

Faith Kivett, Maddie Weeks, and Mary Ansley Chrestman all went 2-for-2 at the plate while Shelbi Maxwell had a 2-for-3 game for the Lady Wolves. Madi Miller and Josie Meggs had one each as the Lady Wolves totaled 10 hits including one double for Meggs, one triple for Kivett, and one home run for Weeks. Kivett and Weeks led the Lady Wolves in game two with three RBIs each while Miller, Maxwell, and Chrestman had one RBI apiece.

Belle West (Byram) got the start for the Lady Wolves and improved to 16-0 with the complete game win pitching five innings allowing two runs on five hits with two strikeouts.

Co-Lin is now 33-3 overall and 19-1 in conference play. The Lady Wolves will return to action with a road doubleheader against Northeast on Friday, April 15. First pitch between the Lady Tigers and the Lady Wolves is scheduled for 2 p.m., in Booneville.