Lady Wolves Sweep Second Straight Top-15 Matchup

WESSON – The Co-Lin Softball returned to conference action hosting their second Top-15 opponent in Northeast Mississippi. The No. 10 Lady Wolves swept the No. 13 Lady Tigers taking game one with a 3-2 walk-off win, and then taking game two, 5-2.

"This was another impressive effort from our girls to finish off an extremely tough week," said Co-Lin head coach Meleah Howard. "I thought that we did a good job of battling at the plate today and I saw a ton of good at-bats from our team. We struggled at times to find a hit in some spots that could have allowed us to get some separation, but we were able to come up with enough hits to come out with two big wins."

GAME ONE

Runs were very scarce throughout the first game of the doubleheader as the starters for both teams kept baserunners from scoring for the first two innings of the game.

The Lady Tigers broke the scoreless tie with a two-run home to take an early lead in the top of the third making the score, 2-0. However, the Wolves started the comeback effort in the bottom of the fourth as they scored one run with Maddie Weeks (Clinton) hitting a leadoff single. Weeks then advanced to second on a single by Abby Grace Richardson (Brookhaven) as both runners advanced to third and second respectively on a sacrifice bunt by Belle West. Weeks then scored on a sacrifice fly by Skyler Speights (Monticello) making the score, 2-1.

The Lady Wolves then tied the game with a single run in the bottom of the fifth as Madison Moak (Brookhaven), advanced to second on a groundout, and then scored as Weeks reached base on an error tying the game at 2-2.

The Lady Tigers then looked to regain the lead in the sixth inning as they put two runners on with no outs, but then back-to-back strikeouts by the Lady Wolves looked to end the scoring threat, but the Tigers loaded the bases with a two-out walk to extend the inning. However, the bases would be left loaded as the Lady Wolves recorded a third strikeout to end the inning and leave the game tied.

The Lady Tigers then held the Lady Wolves scoreless in the bottom of the sixth and then got the go-ahead run to second base in the top of the seventh, but a groundout ended the inning setting the stage for the Lady Wolves to earn their second straight walk-off win.

Moak started the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff double and then advanced to third on a one-out single by Josie Meggs (Kosciusko). After Meggs stole second, Weeks drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Richardson was then hit-by-pitch scoring the game winning run for the Lady Wolves to give them the 3-2 win.

The Lady Wolves totaled 10 hits as a team with Madison Moak going 3-for-3 at the plate while Maddie Weeks had two hits with Faith Kivett (Tallulah, LA), Josie Meggs, Abby Grace Richardson, Belle West, and Bailee Goodson (Brookhaven) adding one hit each. Richardson and Skyler Speights had one RBI each.

Cara Biswell (Brandon) got the start for the Lady Wolves and improved to 4-1 overall with the complete game win allowing two earned runs on six hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.

GAME TWO

The second game saw the Lady Wolves take an early lead with a single run in the bottom of the second as Belle West (Byram) led off the inning being hit by pitch.  Zykeria Cole (Magee) then drew a walk, while Skyler Speights hit a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. Faith Kivett later in the inning drew a two-out walk scoring West to give the Lady Wolves a 1-0 lead.

A pitcher's duel thrown broke out from the third through the top of the sixth innings as the starters for the two teams allowed just two combined hits and four combined baserunners during that time.

The Lady Wolves then had a big bottom of the sixth as they increased their lead with four runs with Abby Grace Richardson leading off by reaching base on an error and advanced to second on the play. Richardson then scored on an RBI single by Belle West. Cole then reached on a fielder's choice as West was forced out. Baillee Goodson then replaced Cole as a pinch runner while Speights was then hit-by-pitch with Maggie West (Waynesboro) replacing her as a pinch runner. Moak then hit a two-out single to load the bases for the Lady Wolves.

Goodson then scored as Kivett was hit-by-pitch while Moak and Maggie West scored on a two-out two RBI double by Josie Meggs making the score 5-0. The Lady Tigers then scored two in the top of the seventh and looked to continue cutting into the Lady Wolves lead, but the Lady Wolves turned to their bullpen and got a groundout and pop out on back-to-back batters to end the inning securing the 5-2 game two win and sweep for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves totaled six hits as a team with Madison Moak going 2-for-3 at the plate while Josie Meggs, Maddie Weeks, Belle West, and Skyler Speights had one hit each. Meggs and Faith Kivett had two RBIs to lead the Lady Wolves while Belle West had one RBI during the game.

Lila Blackburn (Red Bay, AL) got the start for the Lady Wolves and improved to 5-2 overall. Blackburn pitched 6.1 innings allowing two earned runs on four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. Laney Waguespack (Des Allemands, LA) picked up her second save of the season pitching 0.2 innings of relief retiring both batters she faced.

"Our pitchers did another great job in the circle for us during these games," stated Howard. "Only eight runs given up this week to two Top-15 teams is incredible and that speaks volumes to our focus and intensity from our pitchers and defense. It's that kind of effort that will lead to us having a really big year."

Co-Lin improved to 19-7 overall, 6-2 in conference play, and will return to action with on the road against East Central on Wednesday, March 29. First pitch between the Lady Wolves and the Lady Warriors is set for 4 p.m., in Decatur.

"I am just so proud of our fight, our will to win, and most importantly our composure in the face of quite a bit adversity," added Howard. "Now we turn our attention to another week of good competition where I hope that we can continue to build off the effort we gave this week and find a way to pick up some big wins against East Central and Mississippi Delta."