No. 8 Co-Lin defeats No. 9 Gulf Coast in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament

Photo courtesy of Travis Webb, LSU-Eunice Sports Information

EUNICE, Louisiana – The No. 8 Co-Lin Wolves defeated the No. 9 Mississippi Gulf Coast Lady Bulldogs 8-1 remain unbeaten in the National Junior College Athletic Association's Region 23 Tournament (NJCAA) hosted by LSU-Eunice. The Lady Wolves (32-9) will face the No. 2 ranked Jones College (41-7) in a battle of the unbeatens tomorrow at 3 p.m. Gulf Coast will face Northwest in an elimination game at 12 p.m. 

"This group just continues to amaze me with their ability to find ways to win," said Co-Lin Head Coach Meleah Howard. "You can never count this group out. Tonight, it took our hitters a little while to adjust to some of the things Gulf Coast was doing to us, but one we did, the bats showed up in a big way. That's our mentality. We are an offensive minded team and that mindset came through for us tonight. Cera (Blanchard) did another great job of keeping Gulf Coast off balance and holding them to one run while we got things figured out on offense. This group is so much fun to coach and I can't wait to get back on the field for another big game tomorrow."

The Lady Bulldogs took the lead on a Kayla Agner RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. 

Co-Lin would take a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Abigail Carter (Mendenhall/Simpson Academy) would get things started with a single to center. Cera Blanchard (Metairie, LA/De La Salle High School) followed with a single. Molly Johnson's (Jackson/Northwest Rankin High School) RBI single would drive pinch runner Faith Ashley (Brandon/Pisgah High School) to tie the game. Shelbi Maxwell's RBI infield single would plate Blanchard.

The Lady Wolves would add to their lead in the top of the sixth. Pinch hitter Bridjette Talbert (McComb/North Pike High School) singled to right. Molly Davis (Philadelphia/Leake Academy) was reinserted in the game for Talbert. She advanced to second on Madi Miller's sacrifice bunt. Madalyn Wilkinson (Madison/Germantown High School) hit into a fielder's choice advancing Davis to third. Carlon Brabham (Amite, LA/Oak Forest High School) reached on an error. Carter grounded into a fielder's choice plating Davis giving the Lady Wolves a 3-1 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Co-Lin exploded for five runs. Johnson led off with a single. Pinch runner Malori Cade (Brookhaven/Loyd Star High School) advanced to second on Maxwell's bunt single. Davis reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Miller's sacrifice fly drove in Cade. Wilkinson hit a three-run home run to left field to give Co-Lin a 7-1 lead. Carter's RBI double would drive in in Brabham who singled as the Lady Wolves took an 8-1 lead.

Blanchard (15-3) tossed another gem for the Lady Wolves. She gave up one earned run, four hits, struck out seven and walked two.

Anna Avant absorbed the loss for the Lady Bulldogs. She gave up eight runs (seven earned), 15 hits, struck out three and walked three. Abby Vance relieved Avants in the seventh inning. She gave up one hit and walked one.

Leading Co-Lin's 16 hit attack was Johnson who went 4-for-5 on the day. Carter had a double and a pair of singles. Maxwell had a pair of doubles. Wilkinson homered for three RBIs. Miller, Brabham, Blanchard, Jackson, Davis and Talbert hit safely. 

For Gulf Coast, Alexis Laughlin, Kristian Jones, Agner and Whitley Tanner had a single apiece.