No. 5 Lady Wolves get sweep against Southwest

SUMMIT – The No. 5 ranked Co-Lin Lady Wolves swept a doubleheader from the Southwest Lady Bears 12-0 in game one and 10-1 in the second game. The Lady Wolves (7-1, 4-0) run ruled the Lady Bears in five innings in both games.

"We were extremely locked in and ready to play," said Co-Lin assistant coach Drake Flowers. "We had a goal going in and that was to get to 4-0 in conference and we did just that. Our pitchers were lights out tonight. Only allowing one run in two games in the conference we play in is impressive. We are super proud of this group and how they come out and compete. This group just flat out wants to win and you can tell in everything they do on the field."

GAME 1

After two scoreless innings the Lady Wolves exploded for 11 runs in the top of the third inning. Molly Johnson (Jackson/Northwest Rankin) led off the inning with a single to center. Madi Miller (Brookhaven/Brookhaven High School) singled. Shelbi Maxwell (Wesson/Wesson Attendance Center) doubled in Johnson. Carlon Brabham (Amite, LA/Oak Forest Academy) reached on an error by the shortstop that scored Miller. Abigail Carter (Mendenhall/Simpson Academy) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Madalyn Wilkinson (Madison/Germantown High School) singled driving in Maxwell to give the Lady Wolves a 3-0 lead. Pitcher Cera Blanchard (Metairie, LA/DeLaSalle High School) grounded into a fielder's choice to plate Brabham. Bela Dekovic's RBI single plated Carter. Johnson, batting for the second time in the inning, singled to drive in Wilkinson. Miller's RBI triple cleared the bases and gave the Lady Wolves a 9-0 lead. Maxwell hit an inside the park home run to center that would give Co-Lin a commanding 11-0 lead.

Co-Lin picked up another run in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded Wilkinson would draw a walk that increased the Lady Wolves lead 12-0.

"We did a great job of making some adjustments at the plate," said Flowers. "We also did a good job at taking advantage of some mistakes. Defensively, we were sound and limited their opportunities offensively."

Blanchard (4-0), Mississippi Association of Community College Conference's (MACCC) Pitcher of the Week, worked her magic in the circle to improve her record to 4-0. Blanchard shutout the Lady Bears allowing one hit, striking out four and walking three in four innings of work. Alli Grace Albritton relieved Blanchard pitching the fifth inning. She allowed no runs, no hits and walked three.

Absorbing the loss in the circle for Southwest Jade Latham. She allowed 11 runs (five earned) on 11 hits, struck out three and walked none in four innings of work.

Leading Co-Lin's 13 hit attack was Maxwell, who went 3-for-3 with a home run, double and a single for three RBIs. Miller was 3-for-4 in the game with a triple and a pair of singles for three RBIs. Other Lady Wolves hitting safely with multiple hits were Wilkinson and Johnson. Collecting a hit apiece were Brabham, Dekovic and Blanchard.

At the plate for Southwest, Jenna Brock accounted for the only hit in the game.

GAME 2

Game 2 was very similar to Game 1; the big inning came in the top of the second inning. Co-Lin put up a nine spot. Blanchard doubled, Dekovic drew a walk and Molly Davis (Philadelphia/Leake Academy) reached on an error to load the bases with two outs. Miller hit an RBI single to left. Maxwell followed with a walk. Brabham reached on an error as two more runs crossed the plate. Carter hit a home run to center field to give the Lady Wolves a 7-0 lead. Wilkinson drew a walk, Blanchard singled and Dekovic doubled down the right field line to increase the Co-Lin lead to 9-0.

Co-Lin's final run came in the top of the fifth inning on Blanchard's solo home run to center. Southwest put a run on the board in the bottom half of the inning on a solo home run by Cora Robinson.

"We did a good job of finding some more barrel on the ball," said Flowers. "Again, we seemed to be very locked in defensively. We were as good as we've been at being focused in game two. We came out energized and locked in and it definitely showed."

Co-Lin's Bela Luckey picked up her third win of the season pitching all five innings allowing one run on six hits, striking out three and walking three.

Jensen Gremillion absorbed the loss. She gave up 10 runs (one earned) on nine hits, struck out three and walked three.

At the plate for the Lady Wolves, Blanchard went 3-for-3 with a home run, double and single for two RBIs. Miller had a multiple hit game with an RBI. Carter homered for two RBIs. Dekovic doubled for two RBIs. Adding support with a single apiece were Malori Cade (Brookhaven/Loyd Star) and Johnna Norman (Brookhaven/Loyd Star).

For Southwest, Mikenzi Authement had a pair of hits. Robinson homered. Bailey Buckley doubled. Anna Claire Crow and Shelby Mason singled.

NEXT UP | The Lady Wolves travel to Scooba for a doubleheader against the East Mississippi Lady Lions. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.