Lady Wolves Split Doubleheader with Lady Rangers

WESSON – The Co-Lin Softball team returned to action hosting Northwest in a conference play doubleheader. The Lady Wolves and Lady Rangers split the series with the Lady Wolves taking game one, 9-0, and the Lady Rangers taking game two, 5-2.

Game One

Neither team scored through the first two and a half innings of play until the Lady Wolves broke the scoreless tie with one run in the bottom of the third inning. Maddie Weeks (Clinton) led off the inning with a double and then later scored on an RBI-single by Shelbi Maxwell (Wesson) making the score, 1-0.

After retiring the Lady Rangers in order in the top of the fourth, the Lady Wolves scored eight runs in the bottom half of the inning as Mary Ansley Chrestman (Cleveland) singled, Faith Kivett (Tallulah, La.) reached on an error, and Madi Miller (Brookhaven) singled to load the bases with no outs. Weeks then reached on a fielder's choice as Chrestman was forced out on the play while Kivett and Miller scored on a two-RBI single by Madalyn Wlkinson (Madison) as Weeks advanced to third on the play making the score, 3-0. After Wilkinson stole second, Weeks later scored on a wild pitch also advancing Wilkinson to third as Maxwell drew a two-out walk. After Maxwell stole second, Cera Blanchard (Metairie, La.) hit a two-RBI double scoring Wilkinson and Maxwell. Blanchard then scored on a single by Josie Meggs (Kosciusko) making the score, 7-0. Meggs then scored on an RBI-triple by Chrestman (her second hit of the inning) while Chrestman then scored on an RBI-single by Kivett making the score, 9-0.

The Lady Rangers were then retired in order in the top of the fifth to seal the 9-0 win for the Lady Wolves.

Maddie Weeks, Cera Blanchard, Josie Meggs, and Mary Ansley Chrestman all delivered 2-for-3 performances at the plate during the game. Faith Kivett, Madi Miller, Madalyn Wilkinson, and Shelbi Maxwell all had one hit apiece as the Lady Wolves totaled 12 hits including one double each for Blanchard and Weeks and one triple for Chrestman. The Lady Wolves also had each member of the lineup safely reach base throughout the game as Lila Blackburn (Red Bay, Ala.) drew two walks during the game. Wilkinson and Blanchard led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with two each while Kivett, Maxwell, Meggs, and Chrestman had one RBI each.

Cera Blanchard got the start for the Lady Wolves and improved to 19-4 with the complete game win pitching five shutout innings allowing just one hit with seven strikeouts and one walk. Blanchard also retired the last 11 batters she faced in the game.

Game Two

The second game of the day got off to a much different start as the Lady Rangers scored one run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Lady Wolves responded with one run in the bottom half of the inning as Faith Kivett hit a lead-off single, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Madi Miller, and then scored on an RBI-groundout by Maddie Weeks, making the score 1-1.

Neither team scored in the second or third innings as the Lady Rangers broke the tie with one run in the top of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. The Lady Wolves once again tied the game with one run in the bottom of the fifth as Cera Blanchard took one swing of the bat and smashed a 3-2 pitch over the right field fence for a lead-off solo home run (her second of the season) making the score 2-2.

The Lady Rangers then scored two runs in the sixth and one run in the seventh while holding the Lady Wolves to just one hit over the final two innings to secure the 5-2 game two win.

Mary Ansley Chrestman was the only member of the Lady Wolves with a multi-hit game going 2-for-3 at the plate. Faith Kivett, Cera Blanchard, and Laurel Breland (Lake) had one hit each as the Lady Wolves totaled five hits including one double for Breland and one home run for Blanchard. Maddie Weeks and Cera Blanchard had one RBI each for the Lady Wolves.

Belle West (Byram) got the start for the Lady Wolves and fell to 16-2 in the complete game effort pitching seven innings allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits with two strikeouts and one walk.

Co-Lin is now 35-7 overall and 21-5 in conference play. The Lady Wolves will wrap up the 2022 regular season with a home doubleheader against Gulf Coast on Tuesday, April 26. First pitch between the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Wolves is set for 3 p.m., with the Lady Wolves set to celebrate Sophomore Day before the games start.