Brabham leads Lady Wolves in sweep of Baton Rouge

WESSON – Sophomore Carlon Brabham (Amite, LA/Oak Forest Academy) hit three home runs on the day to lead the Co-Lin Lady Wolves to a sweep of the Baton Rouge Lady Bears. Co-Lin, ranked No. 5 in the latest NJCAA poll, won game one 9-1 in five innings and rallied for a 12-4 win in five innings in the nightcap.

GAME 1

Co-Lin opened up scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Madi Miller (Brookhaven/Brookhaven High School)led off with a single to left field. With one out, Brabham smashed her first home run of the day over the centerfield wall to give the Lady Wolves a 2-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the second inning, Cera Blanchard (Metairie, LA/DeLaSalle High School) singled to center. Johnna Norman (Brookhaven/Loyd Star Attendance Center) was hit by a pitch. Molly Davis (Philadelphia/Leake Academy) bunted and reached on an error by the first baseman scoring Blanchard. Madi Miller's sacrifice fly that scored Norman. Shelbi Maxwell's (Wesson/Wesson Attendance Center)RBI single plated Davis and gave Co-Lin a 5-0 lead.

The Lady Wolves added four more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Abigail Carter (Mendenhall/Simpson Academy) led off the inning with a double. Madalyn Wilkinson (Madison/Georgetown High School) followed with a single and stole second. Blanchard drew a walk to load the bases. Carter stole home and the runners advanced. Bela Dekovic's (Belle Chasse, LA/Belle Chasse High School) three-run home run to center field put the Lady Wolves up 9-0. 

Baton Rouge scored their lone run in the top of the fourth inning and were unable to score any runs in the top of the fifth to give the Lady Wolves the 9-1.

"We did a good job at coming out and setting the tone early," said Co-Lin assistant coach Drake Flowers. "We took good approaches to the plate an dhit a lot of balls hard. Our pitchers came out and attacked their hitters which helped us limit them offensively. It as definitely a good way to get the series started."

At the plate for Co-Lin, Brabham homered and doubled for two RBIs. Wilkinson had a pair of singles. Delovic homered and Carter doubled. Adding support with a single apiece were Miller, Maxwell and Blanchard.

For the Lady Bears, Montana Smith doubled. Adding a single apiece were Kaitley Fisher and Frashaylon Angelle.

Blanchard picked up her second win of the season tossing three and a third innings, allowing no runs, no hits, striking out three and walking one. Madalyn Wilkinson relieved Blanchard in the fourth allowing one run on two hits and striking out one. Alli Grace Albritton pitched the fifth inning giving up one hit and striking out three. 

Starter Kelsie Bell Etheridge absorbed the loss giving up nine runs on seven hits, striking out one and walking one in two innings of work. Jodi Broussard threw two innings allowing two hits.

GAME 2

Baton Rouge held a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning when the Lady Wolves exploded for10 runs to win game two 12-4.

"We found ourselved facing a little adversity," said Flowers. "But, that's good for us. We need to be put in touch situations and find ways to win. As the game went, we finally found a way to be more selective at the plate and put together some better at bats and eventually got rolling. We have some things we need to clean up on defense, but all in all it was a good effort from our girls."

Brabham continued to swing a hot bat for Co-Lin going 3-for-4 including two home runs and a single for five RBIs. Molly Johnson (Jackson/Northwest Rankin High School) had a pair of hits and two RBIs. Miller, Maxwell, Carter and Malori Cade (Brookhaven/Loyd Star Attendance Center) singled. Delkovic and Wilkinson (two RBIs) doubled.

At the plate for the Lady Bears, Montana Smith homered and singled. Angelle and Claire Blanchard doubled. Alyson Pourciau singled. 

Sophomore Bella Luckey (Mendenhall/Simpson Academy) earned the win for the Lady Wolves allowing four runs on five hits and striking out four in five innings of work.

Saylor Young absorbed the loss for Baton Rouge. She gave up five runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out one. Broussard came into the game in the fifth inning. She allowed four runs on two hits and walked two. Leanne Lain also saw action in the circle. Lain allowed three runs on two hits and walked three.

NEXT UP: The Lady Wolves host Coahoma for a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 27, starting at 2 p.m.