Lady Wolves Sweep Third Straight Ranked Conference Opponent

BOONEVILLE – The Co-Lin Softball team hit the road for their third-straight doubleheader against a ranked opponent in MACCC play facing off against Northeast Mississippi. The No. 4 Lady Wolves swept the No. 14 Lady Tigers taking game one, 6-1, and then earning come-from-behind win in game two, 12-8.

GAME ONE

The first game of the doubleheader was scoreless through the first three innings, but the Lady Wolves broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth.

Zykeria Cole (Magee) got the offense going with a leadoff single and then advanced to second on a groundout. Taylor Efferson (Holden, LA) then came up to the plate, took one swing of the bat, and crushed the first pitch she saw over the centerfield fence for a two-run home run giving the Lady Wolves a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Tigers then scored one run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Lady Wolves lead in half at 2-1. However, the Lady Wolves responded with three runs in the top of the sixth to increase their lead.

The Lady Wolves started the sixth inning with a trio of doubles as Kinley Ainsworth (Brandon) led off the inning with a double and then scored on a double by Cole who then scored on a double by Efferson giving the Lady Wolves a 4-1 lead. Kat Case (Monticello) was then brought in as a pinch runner for Efferson and took third on groundout then later scored on an RBI groundout by Bailee Goodson (Brookhaven) increasing the lead to 5-1.

The final run for the Lady Wolves came in the seventh inning as Abby Grace Richardson (Brookhaven) hit a one-out double while Leia Phillips was then hit-by-pitch to put two runners on. Richardson advanced to third on a fly out and then the Lady Wolves pulled off the double steal as Richardson stole home while Phillips swiped second to give the Lady Wolves a 6-1 lead.

The Lady Tigers were then retired in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the 6-1 victory.

The Lady Wolves totaled nine hits as a team with Abby Grace Richardson, Zykeria Cole, and Taylor Efferson having two apiece while Madison Maok (Brookhaven), Kynlee Madere (Paulina, LA), and Kinley Ainsworth adding one hit each. Efferson led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with three while Ainsworth and Bailee Goodson had one RBI each.

Cara Biswell (Brandon) pitched a complete game and improved to 7-2 overall allowing one earned run on three hits with seven strikeouts.

GAME TWO

The Lady Wolves wasted no time in scoring in the second game of the day as they plated one run in the top of the first. Abby Grace Richardson hit a two-out single and then scored on an RBI double by Taylor Efferson giving the Lady Wolves an early 1-0 lead.

However, the lead was short-lived as the Lady Tigers scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead. The Lady Tigers held the Lady Wolves off the board in the second and third while increasing their lead to 3-1 with one in the bottom of the third inning.

The Lady Wolves then scored two runs in the top of the fourth as Zykeria Cole hit a leadoff single to get the offense going. Leia Phillips then reached base safely on fielder's choice while an error on the play allowed Cole to advance to third while Phillips took second. Cole then scored on an RBI double by Kinley Ainsworth while Phillips scored on a sacrifice fly by Emeri Warren (Sebastopol) tying the game at 3-3.

The Lady Tigers then hit a three-run home run in the bottom half of the inning to take 6-3 lead over the Lady Wolves. However, the Lady Wolves wasted no time in mounting their comeback as they plated a pair of runs in the top of the fifth cutting the deficit down to one run.

Madison Moak hit a leadoff double and then advanced to third on a fly out. Moak then scored on an RBI double by Richardson who then scored on an RBI single by Efferson making the score,  6-5. After retiring the Lady Tigers in order in the bottom half of the fifth, the Lady Wovles then regained the lead with three runs in the top of the sixth.

Emeri Warren hit a leadoff single to get the offense going and then Laney Waguespack (Bayou Gauche, LA) was brought in as a pinch runner. Bailee Goodson then hit a bunt single to put two runners on with no outs. Waguespack then scored on an RBI double by Moak tying the game at 6-6. Goodson then scored on an RBI groundout by Carson Hughey (Brookhaven) while Moak scored as Richardson reached safely on a fielder's choice giving the Lady Wolves an 8-6 lead.

The Lady Wolves then increased their lead with four runs in the top of the seventh as Kinley Ainsworth hit a leadoff single and was replaced by Olivia Banes (Pelahatchie) as a pinch runner. Banes then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Warren while Sarah Grace Smith (Crystal Springs) hit a pinch-hit single then Goodson re-entered the game as the Lady Wolves had two runners on with one out. A bunt single by Moak then loaded the bases for the Lady Wolves whie Banes, Goodson, and Moak then scored on a bases clearing, three-RBI triple by Hughey increasing the Lady Wolves lead to 11-6. Hughey then scored on an RBI single by Richardson making the lead 12-6.

The Lady Tigers took advantage of an error by the Lady Wolves to score two runs in the bottom half of the inning, but left a runner stranded on second as a fly out and groundout ended the game securing the 12-8 game two victory and sweep for the Wolves.

The Lady Wolves totaled 17 hits as a team as Madison Moak led the way with a 4-for-5 performance while Abby Grace Richardson had three hits. Taylor Efferson, Kinley Ainsworth, and Emeri Warren adding two hits apiece while Carson Hughey, Zykeria Cole, Bailee Goodson, and Sarah Grace Smith had one hit each. Hughey led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with four while Richardson had three, Efferson had two along with Moak, Ainsworth, and Warren adding one RBI each.

Taylor Efferson got the start for the Lady Wolves and earned a no-decision while pitching two innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits with one walk. Karley Rouse (D'Iberville) got the win in relief, her third of the week and second in relief, while pitching three innings and allowing three runs, all earned, on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Cara Biswell picked her first save of the season pitching 1.1 innings in relief and allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits with one strikeout.

Co-Lin improves to 20-2 overall, 7-0 in conference play, and will return to action hosting their fourth straight ranked conference opponent in No. 13 East Central on Tuesday, March 26. First pitch between the Lady Warriors and the Lady Wolves is set for 4 p.m., at Lady Wolves Field in Wesson.