Lady Wolves Split During Florida Roadtrip

NICEVILLE, Fla. – The Co-Lin Softball team hit the road for a pair of games on Monday, March 11 facing off against the Rock Valley College Golden Eagles and the No. 2 Northwest Florida State Raiders. The Lady Wolves split the doubleheader beating the Golden Eagles, 7-5, but falling to the Raiders, 6-4.

GAME ONE

The Lady Wolves got off to a fast start scoring three runs in the bottom of the first as Madison Moak (Brookhaven) hit a leadoff triple. Abby Grace Richardson (Brookhaven) later drew a walk to put runners on the corners with one out. The Lady Wolves then attempted a double steal, but Moak was caught stealing home then Kinley Ainsworth (Brandon) singled to put two runners on with two outs. Zykeria Cole (Magee) then delivered a two-out, two-RBI double scoring Richardson and Ainsworth while a second straight double by Leia Phillips (Philadelphia) scored Cole to give the Lady Wolves a 3-0 lead.

The Lady Wolves then doubled their run total with three more runs in the bottom of the second as Moak got things going with a two-out double. Kynlee Madere (Paulina, LA) then singled advancing Moak to third while Richardson then stepped up and crushed a full count pitch over the centerfield fence for a three-run home run increasing the lead to 6-0.

The Golden Eagles then scored one run in the third, one in the fifth, and two in the sixth to cut the Lady Wolves lead down to 6-4. However, the Lady Wolves responded with a single run in the bottom of the sixth as Carson Hughey (Brookhaven) reached on an error and then scored on the same error on the play making the score, 7-4.

The Golden Eagles then loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh and were able to push one run across making the score, 7-5. However, the Lady Wolves got a flyout and then a strikeout to end the game and secure the victory.

The Lady Wolves totaled 10 hits as a team with Madison Moak, Kynlee Madere, and Zykeria Cole had two hits apiece while Abby Grace Richardson, Kinley Ainsworth, Leia Phillips, and Emeri Warren (Sebastopol) had one hit each. Richardson led the Lady Wolves with three RBIs, Cole had two, and Phillips had one.

Taylor Efferson (Holden, LA) got the start and improved to 2-0 with the win while pitching 5.1 innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Laney Waguespack (Bayou Gauche, LA) pitched one inning of relief allowing one earned run on one hit with two walks while Keegan McCorkle (Tyronza, AR) picked her first save of the season pitching 0.2 innings with one strikeout.

GAME TWO

The Raiders got on the board first with a single run in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Lady Wolves took the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third as Madison Moak reached on an error to start the inning. Kynlee Madere singled and then Abby Grace Richardson drew a walk to load the bases. Back-to-back sacrifice flies by Zykeria Cole and Kinley Ainsworth scored Moak and Madere respectively giving the Lady Wolves a 2-1 lead.

The Lady Wolves added a single run in the top of the fourth as Carson Hughey hit a one-out single. Hughey advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bailee Goodson (Brookhaven), took third on a single by Moak, and then stole home increasing the Lady Wolves lead to 3-1.

The Raiders then took a 4-3 lead with a three-run home run in the fifth and increased their lead to 6-3 with a pair of runs in the sixth. The Lady Wolves mounted a comeback effort in the bottom of the seventh sparked by Richardson who smashed a full count pitch over the centerfield fence making the score, 6-4. Cole and Ainsworth then hit back-to-back singles while Emeri Warren drew a two-out walk to load the bases, but a flyout ended the inning and comeback effort by the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves totaled eight hits as Madison Moak led the team going 2-for-4 at the plate. Kynlee Madere, Abby Grace Richardson, Zykeria Cole, Kinley Ainsworth, Emeri Warren, and Carson Hughey had one hit each. Richardson, Cole, and Ainsworth had one RBI each.

Cara Biswell (Brandon) got the start and moved to 4-2 overall while pitching four innings and allowing four runs, all earned, on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts while Keegan McCorkle pitched two innings of relief allowing two runs, both earned, on two hits with four walks and one strikeout.

Co-Lin is now 11-2 overall and will return to action hosting Gulf Coast for their conference opener on Wednesday, March 13. First pitch between the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Wolves is set for 3 p.m., at Lady Wolves Softball Field in Wesson.