Lady Wolves Drop Pair of Contests to Lady Bobcats

ELLISVILLE – The No. 3 Co-Lin Softball team played their last road games of the 2022 regular season facing off against No. 5 Jones in Ellisville on Wednesday, April 20. The Lady Bobcats swept the Lady Wolves taking game one, 6-3, and game two, 6-5 in extra innings.

Game One

The Lady Wolves looked to take an early lead in the top of the second as they had two runners on with one out, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the potential scoring threat and kept the game scoreless. However, the Lady Bobcats scored two in the bottom of the second to take a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Wolves then scored one run in the top of the fourth as Madalyn Wilkinson (Madison) hit a lead-off single while Shelbi Maxwell (Wesson) then hit a one-out single and Josie Meggs (Kosciusko) was then hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Wilkinson then scored on sacrifice fly by Bela Dekovic (Belle Chasse, La.) making the score, 2-1, while a groundout then ended the inning for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Bobcats then added two runs in the bottom of the fifth to increase their lead to 4-1. However, the Lady Wolves once again fought back scoring two runs in the top of the sixth as Wilkinson and Cera Blanchard (Metairie, La.) drew back-to-back walks to start the inning. Wilkinson and Blanchard then advanced to third and second respectively on a passed ball, while Wilkinson then scored on a second passed ball making the score, 4-2. After advancing to third on the scoring play, Blanchard then scored on an RBI-single by Maxwell making the score, 4-3.

The Lady Bobcats responded with two runs in the top of the sixth to increase their lead to 6-3. The Lady Wolves then loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh, but a fly out and a fielder's choice ended the scoring threat and secured the 6-3 game one win for the Lady Bobcats.

Shelbi Maxwell led the Lady Wolves offense in game one going 3-for-4 at the plate while Madi Miller and Madalyn Wilkinson had two hits apiece accounting for all seven hits by the Lady Wolves. Maxwell and Bela Dekovic had one RBI each during the contest.

Cera Blanchard got the start and fell to 18-3 with the loss pitching all six innings allowing six runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and six walks.

Game Two

The Lady Bobcats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with one run in the first and second innings while holding the Lady Wolves to just one hit in the first two innings combined.

The Lady Wolves then tied the game with two runs in the top of the third inning as Lila Blackburn (Red Bay, Ala.) took one swing of the bat and smashed a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence for a lead-off solo home run (her first of the season) making the score, 2-1. Faith Kivett (Tallulah, La.) then hit a one-out single, advanced to second on an error, and later scored on an RBI-single by Shelbi Maxwell bringing the game to a 2-2 tie.

The Lady Bobcats responded with three runs in the bottom of the third to regain the lead at 5-2. However, the Lady Wolves responded with three runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game once again. Belle West (Byram), Josie Meggs, and Cera Blanchard hit three straight single to load the bases with one out and then all three runners scored on a bases clearing, three-RBI double by Blackburn making the score 5-5.

The game then turned into a pitcher's duel as both teams found their way out of potential scoring threats from the fifth through eighth innings. The Lady Wolves were retired in order in the top of the ninth, and then the Lady Wolves got the first out in the bottom of the ninth, but the second batter of the inning for the Lady Bobcats out a line drive solo home run to give the Lady Bobcats a 6-5 walk-off win in game two and a sweep of the doubleheader.

Faith Kivett and Lila Blackburn had multi-hit games for the Lady Wolves in game two with two hits apiece. Shelbi Maxwell, Belle West, Josie Meggs, and Cera Blanchard had one hit apiece as the Lady Wolves totaled eight hits including one double and one home run for Blackburn. Blackburn also led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with four while Maxwell had one RBI.

Belle West got the start for the Lady Wolves and picked up a no decision pitching 2.2 innings allowing five runs on six hits with one strikeout. Cera Blanchard picked up the loss in a relief appearance falling to 18-4 allowing one run in 5.2 innings pitched on three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.

Co-Lin is now 34-6 overall and 20-4 in MACCC play. The Lady Wolves will return to action hosting Northwest on Saturday, April 23. First pitch between the Lady Wolves and Lady Rangers is set for 1 p.m., in Wesson.