Lady Wolves Sweep Elimination Games

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – With their backs against the wall facing elimination, the Co-Lin Softball team returned to action at the NJCAA Division II World Series on Wednesday, May 22 needing two wins to keep their season alive. The Lady Wolves did exactly that, sweeping the day by beating the Lady Warriors of East Central, 12-4, and then knocking out the top-seeded Cobras of Parkland with a 4-1 win.

GAME ONE – Co-Lin 12, East Central 4

The Lady Wolves exploded for eight runs in the top of the first needing just two batters to score the first run of the game as Madison Moak (Brookhaven) and Abby Grace Richardson (Brookhaven) hit back-to-back singles to start the game making the score, 1-0.

Richardson then advanced to third on a groundout while Emeri Warren (Sebastopol) walked to put two runners on with one out. After Warren stole second, Kinley Ainsworth (Brandon) drew a walk to load the bases. Olivia Banes (Pelahatchie) then delivered an RBI single scoring Richardson while an error on the play allowed Warren to score while Ainsworth and Banes also advanced bases on the play. Zykeria Cole (Magee) then hit a second straight RBI single scoring Ainsworth and increasing the lead to 4-0. After Cole stole second, Carson Hughey (Brookhaven) drew a walk to once again load the bases while Banes then scored on a sacrifice fly by Bailee Goodson. Madison Moak then stepped up and crushed a 3-2 pitch over the centerfield fence for a three-run home run making the lead 8-0.

The Lady Warriors cut into the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first making the score, 8-2. The Lady Wolves added three runs in the top of the third as Goodson drew a two-out walk to get the offense started. Moak then stepped up and scorched a two-run home run over the right field fence while Richardson made it back-to-back jacks with a solo home run over the left field fence increasing the lead to 11-2.

The final run for the Lady Wolves came in the top of the fifth as Goodson drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a single by Moak, took third as Richardson drew a walk, and then scored on a wild pitch increasing the lead to 12-2.

The Lady Warriors added two runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Lady Wolves sealed the 12-4 victory with a flyout in foul territory to end the game and extend their season.

The Lady Wolves totaled ten hits during the game as Madison Moak and AG Richardson were perfect at the plate going 4-for-4 and 3-for-3 respectively as both also reached base in every plate appearance during the game. Kinley Ainsworth, Olivia Banes, and Zykeria Cole had one hit each. Moak led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with five while Richardson had two with Banes, Cole, and Bailee Goodson adding one RBI each.

Cara Biswell (Brandon) improved to 21-5 with the win pitching 4.2 innings and allowing four runs, all earned, on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Emily Richarde (Lakeland, TN) pitched 0.1 innings of relief retiring the only batter she faced.

GAME TWO – Co-Lin 4, Parkland 1

Once again, the Lady Wolves scored first plating one run in the bottom of the second. Emeri Warren hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a groundout, and then scored on an RBI single giving the Lady Wolves a 1-0 lead.

The Lady Wolves doubled their lead in the bottom of the third as Taylor Efferson (Holden, LA) lasered the first pitch of her at-bat down the left field line for a solo home run increasing the lead to 2-0.

The Lady Wolves again doubled their lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth as Efferson hit a leadoff single and then was replaced by Emma Kate Fimiano (Petal) as a pinch runner. Fimiano then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Warren and took third on a single by Kinley Ainsworth. Later in the inning, Zykeria Cole delivered a two-out, two-RBI single increasing the lead to 4-0.

The Cobras scored their lone run in the top of the sixth on a leadoff solo home run making the score, 4-1. The Cobras then got a leadoff single in the top of the seventh, but the Lady Wolves then got back-to-back outs on fielder's choice plays and ended the game with a flyout to eliminate the top-seeded Cobras with a 4-1 victory.

The Lady Wolves totaled 11 hits in the game as Carson Hughey led the way going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate while Taylor Efferson, Kinley Ainsworth, and Olivia Banes had two hits apiece with Emeri Warren and Zykeria Cole had one hit each. Cole led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with two while Efferson and Banes had one RBI each.

Emily Richarde improved to 10-0 on the season with the complete game win allowing one run on seven hits with one walk and three home runs.

Co-Lin improves to 45-6 overall and will return to action against the Golden Eagles of Rock Valley on Wednesday, May 23.