Lady Wolves Sweep Lady Rangers

WESSON – The Co-Lin Softball team returned to conference action hosting Northwest Mississippi on Saturday, March 16. The No. 4 Lady Wolves swept the No. 8 Lady Rangers with a pair of 9-4 wins.

GAME ONE

The Lady Rangers took an early lead with a solo run in the top of the second inning. However, the Lady Wolves exploded for six runs in the bottom half to take a commanding lead against the Lady Rangers as Kinley Ainsworth (Brandon) and Leia Phillips (Philadelphia) were hit-by-pitch to put two runners on with no outs.

Ainsworth and Phillips then scored on a two-RBI double by Taylor Efferson (Holden, LA) making the score, 2-1. Carson Hughey (Brookhaven) then drew a walk while Bailee Goodson (Brookhaven) singled to load the bases for the Lady Wolves. Madison Moak (Brookhaven) then drew a walk scoring Efferson and increasing the Lady Wolves lead to 3-1. After a line out, Abby Grace Richardson (Brookhaven) hit a two-RBI single scoring Hughey and Goodson while an error on the play advanced Moak and Richardson to third and second respectively. Zykeria Cole (Magee) then reached on a fielder's choice while Moak was out at home while Richardson then scored on an RBI single by Ainsworth increasing the Lady Wolves lead to 6-1.

The Lady Wolves increased their lead with a single run in the bottom of the third as Hughey drew a one-out walk and later scored on an RBI double by Moak making the score, 7-1. The Lady Rangers then took advantage of an error by the Lady Wolves to score a pair of runs in the top of the fourth making the score, 7-3.

The Lady Wolves added a single run in the bottom of the fifth as Richardson stepped up to the plate with two outs and crushed a 2-2 pitch over the left field fence for a solo home run, making the score 8-3. The Lady Rangers then hit a two-out solo home run in the top of the sixth cutting the lead in half at 8-4. The final run for the Lady Wolves came in the bottom half of the sixth as Phillips drew a one-out walk and later scored on an RBI double by Hughey making the score, 9-4. The Lady Rangers were then retired in order in the top of the seventh to seal the victory for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves totaled nine hits as a team with Madison Moak, AG Richardson, and Carson Hughey had two hits each while Kinley Ainsworth, Taylor Efferson, and Bailee Goodson had one hit apiece. Richardson led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with three while Moak and Efferson had two RBIs apiece with Ainsworth and Hughey adding one RBI each.

Cara Biswell (Brandon) pitched a complete game and improved to 7-2 overall with the win. Biswell allowed four runs, two earned, on eight hits with three walks and a career-high 11 strikeouts.

GAME TWO

The Lady Rangers got on the board first with a single run in the top of the first and then increased their lead with one run in the third holding a 2-0 lead over the Lady Wolves. However, the Lady Wolves responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning as Bailee Goodson drew a one-out walk to get the offense going.

Goodson then stole second and third on back-to-back plays and scored as Madison Moak reached on an error. The Lady Wolves then tied the game as Moak scored on an RBI double by Kynlee Madere (Paulina, LA) who then scored on an RBI single by Abby Grace Richardson giving the Lady Wolves a 3-2 lead.

The Lady Wolves added a single run in the bottom of the fourth as Zykeria Cole hit a two-out double and then scored on an RBI single by Goodson increasing the lead to 4-2. The Lady Rangers then hit a two-run home run in the top of the fourth tying the game at 4-4.

The Lady Wolves then exploded for five runs in the bottom of the sixth as Taylor Efferson hit a leadoff single while Kat Case (Monticello) was then brought in as a pinch runner. Laney Waguespack (Bayou Gauche, LA) was then brought in as a pinch hitter and dropped down a sacrifice bunt but was safe on the play. An error on the play allowed both Case and Waguespack to score giving the Lady Wolves a 6-4 lead. Goodson then singled while Moak drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs while both runners then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Madere. Goodson then scored on an RBI single by Richardson while both Moak and Richardson scored on a two-out, two RBI single by Leia Phillips increasing the lead to 9-4.

The Lady Rangers got a leadoff single in the top of the seventh, but the Lady Wolves then retired the next three batters to secure the game two win and sweep.

The Lady Wolves totaled 10 hits as a team with Kynlee Madere, AG Richardson, Leia Phillips, and Bailee Goodson had two hits apiece while Taylor Efferson and Zykeria Cole had one hit each. Richardson and Phillips led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with two each while Moak, Madere, and Goodson had one RBI apiece.

Keegan McCorkle pitched a complete game for the Lady Wolves and improved to 4-0 with the win. McCorkle allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

Co-Lin improves to 15-2 overall, 4-0 in conference play, and will return to action on the road against No. 6 Jones on Tuesday, March 19. First pitch between the Lady Wolves and the Lady Bobcats is set for 4 p.m., at Community Bank Park in Ellisville.