Lady Wolves Sweep No. 4 Kirkwood

WESSON – The No. 7 Co-Lin Softball team returned to action with a Top-10 matchup at home against No. 4 Kirkwood. The Lady Wolves hit four home runs behind a one-hit shutout in a 10-0 game one win then followed with a three-hit shutout in a 3-0 game two win in a sweep of the Lady Eagles.

"It felt good to secure two wins over the number four team in the nation in front of our home crowd," stated Co-Lin head coach Meleah Howard. "We had some key players step up in high pressure situations and I was so proud to see that. Those types of situations help prepare us for what we will face in conference play."

GAME ONE

The Lady Wolves wasted no time taking an early lead over the Lady Eagles as they scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Faith Kivett (Tallulah, LA) led off the inning by reaching base on an error then later in the inning Abby Grace Richardson took one swing of the bat and crushed the first pitch she saw over the center field fence for a two-run home run.

The Lady Wolves then had their first of two four-run innings in the bottom of the second to extend their lead. Skyler Speights (Monticello) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Madison Moak (Brookhaven). Bailee Goodson then stepped up and took one swing of the bat and smashed a full count pitch over the left field fence making the score 4-0. Kivett then followed with a double, stole third, and then scored on an error making the score 5-0. Later in the inning, Richardson crushed a 2-2 count over the left field fence for a solo home run, her second of the game, increasing the Lady Wolves lead to 6-0.

The final four runs for the Lady Wolves came in the bottom of the fourth as Kivett and Meggs led off with back-to-back singles. Kivett then scored on an RBI single by Richardson making the score 7-0. Maddie Weeks (Clinton) then scored the final three runs as she hit a no-doubt three-run home run over the centerfield fence making the score 10-0.

The Lady Eagles then hit a two-out double in the top of the fifth, but a fly out ended the inning securing the 10-0 victory for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves totaled 11 hits as a team as Abby Grace Richardson went for a perfect 3-for-3 while Faith Kivett and Maddie Weeks had two hits each with Josie Meggs, Belle West (Byram), Skyler Speights, and Bailee Goodson having one hit apiece. Richardson led the Lady Wolves with four RBIs, Weeks had three RBIs, while Goodson had two RBIs.

Belle West got the start in the circle for the Lady Wolves and improved to 4-1 on the season with four innings pitched. West faced the minimum number of batters with three strikeouts. Elena Thompson (Water Valley) pitched one inning of relief allowing one hit.

GAME TWO

The second game of the doubleheader was a scoreless tie until the Lady Wolves scored one run in the bottom of the third inning. Madison Moak led off the inning by reaching base on an error and then later advanced to third as Josie Meggs (Kosciusko) also reached on an error. Abby Grace Richardson then drew a walk to load the bases while Moak then scored on an RBI single by Maddie Weeks making the score 1-0. The Lady Wolves looked to continue scoring in the inning, but a double play by the Lady Eagles ended the potential big inning for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves then doubled their lead with another solo run in the bottom of the fourth as Bailee Goodson reached base on an error, advanced to second on a single by Julianna Frazier (Bogue Chitto), and then later scored on an RBI single by Faith Kivett making the score 2-0.

The Lady Eagles then looked to score in the top of the fifth as they loaded the bases with no outs. The Lady Wolves turned to Laney Waguespack (Des Allemands, LA) to relieve starter Lila Blackburn (Red Bay, AL) and get out of the jam. The freshman came through in a clutch moment once again as she got the Lady Eagles to go strikeout, lineout, strikeout to leave the bases loaded and maintain the 2-0 lead.

The Lady Wolves got their final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth as Frazier hit a one-out double and then scored on an RBI double by Moak making the score 3-0. The Lady Eagles then got two runners on with two outs, but Waguespack got a game-ending strikeout to secure the 3-0 game two victory and sweep for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves totaled six hits as a team as Julianna Frazier went 2-for-3 at the plate while Faith Kivett, Maddie Weeks, Bailee Goodson, and Madison Moak had one hit each. Kivett, Weeks, and Moak had one RBI each.

Lila Blackburn picked up the win and improved to 3-1 on the season pitching four scoreless innings to start the game allowing one hit with three walks and seven strikeouts. After her earning her first college win in her last appearance for the Lady Wolves, Laney Waguespack (1-0, 1 save) earned her first college save pitching three innings of scoreless relief allowing just two hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

"Our pitching staff did a phenomenal job against their batters and the girls played solid defense behind them all day too," added Howard. "We swung the bats well and I am pleased with how aggressive we were with our baserunning. It was a great day in Wesson for the Lady Wolves and our fans!"

Co-Lin improves to 8-2 overall and will return to action on Saturday, February 25 participating in the Hinds JUCO Classic. The Lady Wolves will take on No. 17 Parkland at 11 a.m., and then face off against Coastal Alabama – North at 4 p.m., with both games played at Sports Force Park in Vicksburg.