Lady Wolves Keep Season Alive with Pair of Wins

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Co-Lin Softball team entered play on Thursday, May 23, needing two wins to stay alive in the NJCAA Division II World Series. The Lady Wolves were able to get those two wins with a dominant show of force against Rock Valley, 10-2, while they erased a late deficit against Louisburg in an 11-6 win.

GAME ONE – Co-Lin 10, Rock Valley 2

The Lady Wolves wasted no time getting on the board as they plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning as Abby Grace Richardson (Brookhaven) started the offense with a one-out single. Taylor Efferson (Holden, LA) then stepped up and smashed a 3-1 pitch over the fence in left field for a two-run home run to give the Lady Wolves a 2-0 lead.

After a scoreless second inning, the Lady Wolves added two runs in the bottom of the third as once again Richardson hit a single, this time to lead off the inning. Efferson then came to the plate and crushed a 3-2 pitch over the fence in left centerfield for another two-run home run, her second straight in as many at-bats, to double the Lady Wolves lead at 4-0.

The Golden Eagles then cut into the Lady Wolves lead with one run in the top of the fourth making the score, 4-1. However, the Lady Wolves responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning as Bailee Goodson (Brookhaven) drew a two-out walk to get the offense going. Goodson then scored on an RBI triple by Madison Moak (Brookhaven) making the score, 5-1. Richardson then stepped up and crushed a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for a two-run home run increasing the lead to 7-1.

The Golden Eagles added their second run of the game on a solo home run in the top of the fifth making the score, 7-2. Once again, the Lady Wolves responded with three runs in the bottom half as Kinley Ainsworth (Brandon) hit a leadoff infield single to start the offense and was then replaced by Emma Kate Fimiano (Petal) as a pinch runner. Olivia Banes (Pelahatchie) and Zykeria Cole (Magee) then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for the Lady Wolves with no outs. Goodson drew a third straight walk scoring Fimiano while Banes and Cole scored on a two-RBI double by Moak sealing the 10-2 victory for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves totaled nine hits as a team with AG Richardson leading the way going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate while Madison Moak and Taylor Efferson added two hits apiece with Kinley Ainsworth and Bailee Goodson adding one hit each. Efferson led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with four, Moak had three, Richardson had two, while Goodson added one RBI.

Cara Biswell (Brandon) got the start and improved to 22-5 overall while pitching three innings and allowing one earned run on four hits with two walks and one strikeout. Emily Richarde (Lakeland, TN) pitched two innings of relief allowing one earned run on one hit with one strikeout.

GAME TWO – Co-Lin 11, Louisburg 6

Once again, the Lady Wolves struck first as they plated one run in the bottom of the first with Madison Moak hitting a leadoff double to get the offense going. Later in the inning, Moak scored on a two-out, RBI double by Emeri Warren (Sebastopol) giving the Lady Wolves a 1-0 lead.

The Hurricanes then tied the game with a solo home run in the top of the second; however, the Lady Wolves responded by retaking the lead with a single run in the bottom half of the inning. Carson Hughey (Brookhaven) drew a two-out walk to get the offense going and advanced to second on a single by Bailee Goodson. Hughey then scored on a two-out, RBI single by Moak giving the Lady Wolves a 2-1 lead.

The Lady Wolves added one run in the bottom of the third as Taylor Efferson drew a leadoff walk, but was forced out at second while Warren reached on a fielder's choice. Warren advanced to second on a single by Banes, and then scored on an RBI single by Zykeria Cole increasing the lead to 3-1.

After a scoreless fourth inning, the Hurricanes scored five runs in the top of the fifth to take their first lead of the game at 6-3. However, the Lady Wolves exploded for six runs in the bottom half to retake the lead for good as Warren drew a leadoff walk and then advanced to third on a double by Kinley Ainsworth. Warren then scored on an RBI single by Banes while Ainsworth also scored on the play making the score, 6-5, while Banes advanced to second. Banes then took third on an infield single by Cole. The Lady Wolves then tied the game with a double steal as Banes stole home while Cole swiped second making the score, 6-6, while Cole also took third on the play. Cole then scored on an RBI double by Hughey as the Lady Wolves regained the lead at 7-6. Later in the inning, Hughey scored on an RBI double by Moak. After Efferson drew a two-out walk to extend the inning, Moak scored on a two-out, RBI single by Warren increasing the lead to 9-6.

After retiring the Hurricanes in order in the top of the sixth, the Lady Wolves added two runs in the bottom half of the inning as Hughey and Goodson drew back-to-back walks with two outs to get the offense going. Both Hughey and Goodson then scored on a two-out, two-RBI triple by Moak increasing the lead to 11-6.

The Hurricanes then drew a leadoff walk to start the top of the seventh, but the Lady Wolves then recorded three straight outs to seal the 11-6 victory to extend their season.

The Lady Wolves totaled 13 hits as Madison Moak led the way going 4-for-5 at the plate while Emeri Warren, Olivia Banes, and Zykeria Cole had two hits apiece with Kinley Ainsworth, Carson Hughey, and Bailee Goodson adding one hit each. Moak led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with four while Warren had two RBIs with Banes, Cole, and Hughey adding one RBI each.

Cara Biswell got the start for the Lady Wolves and earned a no-decision while pitching 4.1 innings and allowing four runs, all earned, on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Emily Richarde got the win in relief and improved to 11-0 with 2.1 innings pitched and allowing two earned runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Co-Lin improves to 47-6 overall and will play either Murray State or Johnson County on Friday, May 24.