Behind a big bat from Carter, Co-Lin defeats Southwest, 11-7

WESSON, Miss. - The Lady Wolves of Copiah-Lincoln Community College improved to 7-0 on the season last night with an 11-7 victory over their rivals Southwest. The win is the first of the 2020 Coca-Cola Challenge presented by Powerade, the best-of-three series between the two teams. Abigail Carter led the Lady Wolves to the win as the freshman could not be denied at the dish as she drove in five runs on three hits. 

The Lady Wolves got on the board early as Katelyn Hayman blasted a solo homer to lead off the first inning on the fourth pitch she saw. Carter followed later in the frame with an RBI single, but Southwest was quick to respond with two scores in the top of the second. The Lady Bears pulled away to a 6-2 lead in the top of the third with a solo homer and three more runs. Co-Lin refused to go down as the squad rallied in the bottom of the frame and poured in eight runs. Two of which came from a Carter homer to left field. The big, eight-run, inning put the Lady Wolves back on top, 10-6.

In the fifth, Carter ripped another RBI with a single to left to grow the Lady Wolves' lead, 11-6. Southwest scratched one run across in the top of the seventh, but it was too-little-too-late as Co-Lin recorded the final out on the same play as a Lady Bear tried to advance to third. 

Karlie Johnson was the winning pitcher for Co-Lin as she lasted four and a third innings, allowing six hits and one run while striking out five in relief. Kaytlon Ward got the nod to start the contest for the Lady Wolves. She allowed three hits and six runs over two and two-thirds innings, striking out three.

Jade Latham led things off on the rubber for Southwest. She surrendered four runs on four hits over two innings, striking out three. Allie Hunt and Jolie Freeman entered the game from the bullpen, throwing three innings and one inning respectively. Freeman took the loss from the circle. 

Carter's team-high three hits and five RBIs were difference-makers in the game, while Carlon Brabham posted two hits. Johnna Norman, Katelyn Hayman, Delaine McMillan, April Lynn, and Baileigh Jackson all recorded one hit for the Lady Wolves, while Norman drove in two runs.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 1st | Katelyn Hayman hits solo homer to left, Co-Lin 1, Southwest 0

Bottom 1st | Abigail Carter hits RBI single, Co-Lin 2, Southwest 0

Top 2nd | Southwest scores on error, Co-Lin 2, Southwest 1

Top 2nd | Southwest scores on bases-loaded walk, Co-Lin 2, Southwest 2

Top 3rd | Newman hits solo homer to center, Co-Lin 2, Southwest 3

Top 3rd | Southwest scores on error, Co-Lin 2, Southwest 4

Top 3rd | Southwest scores on wild pitch, Co-Lin 2, Southwest 5

Top 3rd | Brock hits RBI single to center, Co-Lin 2, Southwest 6

Bottom 3rd | Abigail Carter hits two-run homer to left, Co-Lin 4, Southwest 6

Bottom 3rd | Baileigh Jackson hits RBI line-drive single to left, Co-Lin 5, Southwest 6

Bottom 3rd | April Lynn scores after Macy Ziskin draws walk, Co-Lin 6, Southwest 6

Bottom 3rd | Johnna Norman hits RBI single to left, Co-Lin 7, Southwest 6

Bottom 3rd | Carlon Brabham hits RBI line-drive single to center that scores two, Co-Lin 9, Southwest 6

Bottom 3rd | Abigail Carter grounds out, but drives in one, Co-Lin 10, Southwest 6

Bottom 5th | Abigail Carer hits RBI single to left, Co-lin 11, Southwest 6

Top 7th | Newman hits RBI single to left, Co-Lin 11, Southwest 7

Up Next

The Lady Wolves are back on the diamond this Friday, February 28 at 2 and 4 p.m. as they play host to Demoines Area Community College in Wesson, before taking on Highland Community College out of Kansas and Coast Alabama in Brandon, Miss. on Saturday, February 29 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.