Lady Wolves Walk Off Win Earns Sweep of Jones

WESSON – The No. 10 Co-Lin Softball team returned to action with a Top-10 matchup for their home conference opener hosting No. 5 Jones on Tuesday, March 21. The Lady Wolves swept the Bobcats with a 10-2 five-inning victory in game one and then walked it off, 3-2, in the bottom of the ninth of game two for the Lady Wolves first sweep of Jones since the 2010 season.

"We play in the best conference in the country, so anytime that we can come up with a sweep is a huge accomplishment," said Co-Lin head coach Meleah Howard. "I thought that the girls did a great job of attacking good pitches and putting up runs, which gave them a lot of energy in the field defensively."

Game One

The Lady Wolves wasted no time jumping out to an early lead with four runs in the bottom of the first as Faith Kivett (Tallulah, LA) hit a leadoff bunt single. Kivett then advanced to second on a wild pitch and then scored on an RBI triple by Josie Meggs (Kosciusko) for the first run of the game. Meggs then scored on an RBI groundout by Maddie Weeks (Clinton) making the score, 2-0. Abby Grace Richardson (Brookhaven) hit a two-out double to extend the inning then Zykeria Cole (Magee) took one swing of the bat and crushed a 1-1 pitch to the Lady Wolves bullpen in left field for a two-run home run making the score, 4-0.

The Lady Wolves increased their lead with two runs in the bottom of the second as Madison Moak (Brookhaven) hit a one-out double, advanced to third, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Kivett. Meggs then reached base on an error and scored all the way from first on an RBI double by Weeks making the score, 6-0.

The Bobcats cut into the Lady Wolves with a single run in the top of the third making the score, 6-1. However, the Lady Wolves responded with three more runs in the bottom half of the inning as Cole led off reaching base on an error. Skyler Speights (Monticello) then stepped up and seven pitch at-bat with a two-run home to left field making the score, 8-1. Kivett then extended the inning with a two-out double, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on an RBI single by Meggs making the score, 9-1.

After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, the Bobcats added one run in the top of the fifth making the score 9-2. The Lady Wolves then scored one run in the bottom half of the inning as Moak drew a one out walk, advanced to second on a single by Kivett, and then scored as Weeks reached on an error to secure the 10-2 victory for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves totaled 10 hits as a team with Faith Kivet leading the way going 3-for-3 at the plate while Josie Meggs had two hits during the game. Maddie Weeks, Abby Grace Richardson, Zykeria Cole, Skyler Speights, and Madison Moak had one hit each. Meggs, Weeks, Cole, and Speights had two RBIs each to lead the Lady Wolves while Kivett had one RBI.

Cara Biswell (Brandon) got the start and improved to 3-1 overall with the win. Biswell pitched her third straight complete game allowing two earned runs in five innings on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

GAME TWO

The second game of the day featured a pitcher's duel early as both runs and hits were hard to come by with both starters stranding baserunners throughout the first three innings of a scoreless game.

The Bobcats broke the scoreless tie with a solo home run in the top of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Lady Wolves responded with one run of their own as Maddie Weeks drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and then scored on a one-out RBI single by Abby Grace Richardson tying the game at 1-1.

The Bobcats looked to take advantage of a scoring chance once again in the top of the fifth as they loaded the bases with two outs, but a fielder's choice with an out ended the inning and left the game tied.

The pitcher's duel then resumed as the Lady Wolves turned to their bullpen in the fifth to get out of the jam while the Bobcats starter, Holly Craft, continued to strand baserunners by the Lady Wolves. The Bobcats then turned to their bullpen in the eighth inning as the game went into extra innings and remain tied at 1-1 after a three-up-and-three-down bottom half of that inning.

The Bobcats then broke the tie with a single run in the top of the ninth making the score, 2-1, and setting the stage for the Wolves comeback effort. The Lady Wolves wasted little time in responding as Richardson stepped up and smashed a leadoff solo home run to once again tie the game at 2-2. Cole then followed with a single and was lifted for Bailee Goodson (Brookhaven) as a pinch runner. Goodson then advanced to second as Julianna Frazier (Bogue Chitto) came up with a huge pinch hit, one-out single, and then was replaced by Kat Case as a pinch runner. Madison Moak then stepped and delivered the game winning hit with a bunt single that rolled just off the infield dirt scoring Goodson and giving the Lady Wolves a 3-2 walk off win and sweep of the Bobcats.

The Lady Wolves totaled seven hits as a team with Abby Grace Richardson and Madison Moak leading the way with two hits each while Josie Meggs, Zykeria Cole, and Julianna Frazier having one hit each. Richardson led the Lady Wolves with two RBIs while Moak had one RBI.

Lila Blackburn (Red Bay, AL) got the start for the Lady Wolves and earned a no-decision while pitching four innings allowing one run on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Laney Waguespack (Des Allemands, LA) picked up the win in the relief appearance and improved to 4-0 on the season. Waguespack pitched five innings allowing one run on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

"We knew in game two things would be a lot closer and tighter than the first game. Our team did a great job of battling against two of the best pitching arms in our conference," stated Howard. "We found some ways to come up with clutch hits and execution when we needed it from our hitters that led to us finding a way to win that game."

"Our pitchers were locked in during the whole doubleheader," added Howard. "Cara, Lila, and Laney all fought hard and ended up holding one of the best teams in the country to just four runs in two games. The effort in the circle combined with an excellent defensive performance behind them was impressive."

Co-Lin improves to 17-7 overall, 4-2 in conference play, and will return to action hosting No. 13 Northeast Mississippi on Saturday, March 25. First pitch between the Lady Tigers and the Lady Wolves is set for 2 p.m., at Lady Wolves Field in Wesson.

"The energy from beginning to end was at a championship level and I couldn't be prouder to be the coach of this team," stated Howard. "We are looking forward to getting back after it with another Top-15 matchup here this weekend!"