Lady Wolves Rout Lady Bears in Season Opening Sweep

WESSON – The Co-Lin Softball team opened the 2023 season playing host to Baton Rouge on Sunday, February 5. The Lady Wolves outscored the Lady Bears, 26-4, sweeping the Lady Bears as they won game on 12-4 and game two 14-0.

"It was so nice to finally take the field with this group," said Co-Lin head coach Meleah Howard. "They played hard throughout the day and brought the type of energy we want to see everytime we take the field."

GAME ONE

The Lady Wolves got the scoring started early in the game with a pair of runs in the first inning. Sophomore infielder Maddie Weeks (Clinton) got the Lady Wolves going with a two-out single followed by back-to-back doubles by freshman catcher Abby Grace Richardson (Brookhaven) and Josie Meggs (Kosciusko) scoring Weeks and Richardson and giving the Lady Wolves a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Wolves added a solo run in the second inning as freshman utility player Bailee Goodson (Brookhaven) hit a two-out single, stole second, advanced to third on an error, and then scored on a second error to give the Lady Wolves a 3-0 lead.

The big inning came in the bottom of third as they scored eight runs to blow the game open. Freshman outfielder Madison Moak (Brookhaven) reached on an error to start the inning followed by Weeks drawing a walk. Richardson then took one swing of the bat and smashed a three-run home run to double the Lady Wolves lead to 6-0. Sophomore infielder Skyler Speights (Monticello) and sophomore outfielder Lizzy Hollingsworth (Decatur) hit back-to-back singles with one out while sophomore pitcher Belle West (Byram) drew a walk to load the bases. Spieghts then scored as Goodson reached base on a fielder's choice, while West then scored on a single by sophomore infielder Faith Kivett (Tallulah, La.) to make the score 8-0. Moak then drew a walk to load the bases while the final three runs all scored on a bases clearing double by Weeks to increase the Lady Wolves lead to 11-0.

The Lady Bears scored two runs in the top of the fourth to cut the Lady Wolves lead down to 11-2; however, the Lady Wolves responded with their final run of the game in the bottom half of the inning. Meggs drew a leadoff walk, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Hollingsworth to give the Lady Wolves a 12-2 lead.

The Lady Bears scored two runs in the top of the fifth but a pop out in the infield ended the game and secured the 12-4 win for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves had nine hits as a team as Madde Weeks and Abby Grace Richardson went 2-for-3 at the plate and tied for the team lead in RBIs with three each with each having one extra base hit during the game as Weeks had one double and Richardson had a three-run home run. Faith Kivett, Josie Meggs, Skyler Speights, Lizzy Hollingsworth, and Bailee Goodson accounted for the other five hits for the Lady Wolves. Meggs also added two RBIs during the game with Kivett, Hollingsworth, and Goodson adding one RBI each.

Belle West got the start in the circle for the Lady Wolves and picked up the win moving to 1-0 on the season. West pitched three innings allowing two earned runs on six hits. Sophomore pitcher Elena Thompson (Water Valley) pitched one inning allowing two runs, one earned, on one hit with one strikeout and two walks.

GAME TWO

The Lady Bears threatened to score in the top of the first as they loaded the bases with two outs, but sophomore pitcher Lila Blackburn (Red Bay, Ala.) got a swinging strikeout to get out of the inning and end the scoring threat.

However, the Lady Wolves took an early lead in the bottom of the first as Madison Moak got the offense going with a one-out double and then scored on a two-out single by Abby Grace Richardson making the score 1-0.

The Lady Wolves then added four runs in the bottom of the second, all with two outs, as Speights hit a leadoff double and then scored on a two-out single by Faith Kivett. Moak then hit her second double of the game advancing Kivett to third while Weeks drew a walk to load the bases. Richardson then reached safely on a fielder's choice as Kivett scored while Moak and Weeks scored on a two-RBI single by Meggs making the score 5-0.

The Lady Wolves then used a big third inning to double up their lead as Blackburn reached on an error with one out to get the offense started. Freshman infielder Zykeria Cole (Magee) then doubled advancing Blackburn to third and then she scored on a single by Kivett. Cole and Kivett both scored on Moak's third double of the game, in as many at-bats, to give the Lady Wolves an 8-0 lead. Moak then scored on a single by Weeks, who later stole second, and then scored on a two-out single by Meggs increasing the Lady Wolves lead to 10-0.

The final four runs for the Lady Wolves came in the bottom of the fourth as freshman first baseman Sarah Grace Smith (Crystal Springs) and freshman pitcher Laney Waguespack (Des Allemandes, La.) hit back-to-back doubles to start the inning and give the Lady Wolves an 11-0 lead. Waguespack then stole third and scored as sophomore utility player Laurel Breland (Lake) reached on an error. Weeks then stepped up and blasted a two-run home run with two outs to score the final two runs for the Lady Wolves and make the score 14-0.

The Lady Bears had the leadoff batter reach on an error by the Lady Wolves in the top of the fifth; however, Josie Meggs showed her defensive acumen fielding a bunt and then doubling up the runner at first base for a quick double play while a groundout to Weeks ended the game and sealed the 14-0 victory for the Lady Wolves.

Madison Moak led the Lady Wolves offense in game two as she went 3-for-3 with three double while Faith Kivett, Maddie Weeks, and Josie Meggs had two hits each and Abby Grace Richardson, Skyler Speights, Laney Waguespack, Zykeria Cole, and Sarah Grace Smith had one hit apiece as the Lady Wolves had 14 hits as a team. Meggs and Weeks led the Lady Wolves with three RBIs each while Kivett, Moak, and Richardson had two RBIs apiece and Waguespack and Laurel Breland had one RBI each.

Lila Blackburn got the start in the circle for the Lady Wolves and improved to 1-0 on the season allowing one hit in three innings with four strikeouts and two walks. Laney Waguespack and freshman pitcher Cara Biswell (Brandon) pitched one inning of relief each as Waguespack allowed two hits with two strikeouts and Biswell faced the minimum number of batters in her inning of relief.

"I was very pleased with how we swung the bats today and with how aggressive we were able to be on the basepaths," added Howard. "Scoring 26 runs and only allowing four runs in two games is very impressive."

"All of our pitchers were able to get some time on the mound and they did a solid job," said Howard. "I am already looking forward to our next outing."

Co-Lin is now 2-0 on the season and will return to action with a doubleheader against Dyersburg State on Friday, February 10. First pitch between the Lady Eagles and the Lady Wolves is set for 1 p.m., at Lady Wolves Field in Wesson.