Lady Wolves split with Hinds after up and down day

RAYMOND, Miss. – The Lady Wolves of Copiah-Lincoln Community College split with Hinds on Tuesday in a major MACJC matchup. Co-Lin picked up a game one win 8-7 but dropped the nightcap 4-2 after a walk-off homer from Hinds. The split moves the Lady Wolves to 24-17 on the year and to 15-11 in MACJC play. Co-Lin is currently seventh in the state, but have the tiebreaker advantage against Northeast and Pearl River. The Lady Wolves are back in action Saturday, April 21 as Co-Lin hosts Holmes for sophomore day. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. The contest will also serve as the Lady Wolves Veterans Emphasis Game. All veterans and their families are encouraged to attend.

Game One, W, 8-7

Co-Lin's Bailey Root, the reigning MACJC Pitcher of the Week, was in the circle for the Lady Wolves but thrived on the offensive end in game one. The sophomore roped a three-run homer in the top of the first that scored Callie Fortenberry and Julie Scheuermann.

The Hinds Lady Eagles bounced back in the bottom of the first and plated three runs to knot the game going into the second frame.

In the bottom of the second, a throwing error and an RBI single pushed two more runs across for the Lady Eagles and gave them a 5-3 advantage.

Root cut that lead to just one in the top of the third with a solo homer, her second round-tripper of the day. Later in the inning, a pair of RBI singles from Tori Pettit and Fortenberry gave the Lady Wolves the lead once again, 6-5.

The Lady Wolves grew that lead to 8-5 in the top of the fifth. Hinds got one back in the bottom of the fifth and another in the in the bottom of the sixth, but Makenzie Smith entered the circle and shut down the comeback attempt.

Root took the win for the Lady Wolves in the circle. She surrendered seven runs on ten hits over five and a third innings, striking out five. Smith threw one and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen. Smith recorded the last five outs to earn her first save for Co-Lin.

The Lady Wolves racked up 10 hits in the game. Root, Paige Hulin, and Fortenberry all managed multiple hits, and Root went 3-for-4 to lead Co-Lin at the plate.

"Bailey didn't have her A-game, but gutted it out for us," said Co-Lin head coach Allen Kent. "She kept swinging a hot bat and helped herself at the plate. Smith relieved in the sixth and ended a threat with two huge strikeouts and tossed a scoreless seventh to earn the win."

Game Two, L, 4-2

The Lady Wolves dropped the nightcap in sad fashion on Tuesday as the Lady Eagles secured the win with a walk-off two-run homer.

Alex Anthony reached base early for the Lady Wolves in the top of the first and scored on a wild pitch to give Co-Lin a 1-0 lead going into the second.

The Lady Wolves grew that lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth after taking advantage of a Hinds error. Callie Fortenberry ripped a groundball to short, and the fielding error allowed Abigail Thornton to score after stealing second and third.

The Lady Eagles got one back in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single and another in the bottom of the sixth.

Amelia Purdy walked it off in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run shot to center field.

Mackenzie Gros started the game for Co-Lin. She surrendered two runs on nine hits over five and a third innings, striking out two and walking one, but Makenzie Smith took the loss. Smith surrendered two runs on two hits over one and one-third innings, striking out one and walking zero.

Thorton led the Lady Wolves at the plate with two hits in two at bats.

"This was a game of missed opportunities," said Kent. "We had chances to put a lot of runs up early and couldn't get it done at the plate. Gros threw well, but we did not give her much run support. Hinds has been playing very well, as have we, but it was pretty much what we expected coming in. The fans got their money's worth."

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