Lady Wildcats keep bats hot, sweep East Mississippi
SCOOBA, Miss. — The Pearl River Lady Wildcats got hot and stayed hot Monday night sweeping East Mississippi 6-2 and 24-2 (5 inn.).
The Lady Wildcats (17-17 overall, 7-11 MACJC) dominated offensively scoring 30 runs on 27 hits.
Twenty-four runs is the most PRCC has scored in one game since the 2016 season when they defeated Coahoma 20-1.
"It was a good night. We saw the ball really well and executed," PRCC coach Leigh White said.
Game 1: PRCC 6, EMCC 2
The Lady Wildcats struck first in the top of the first inning.
Elizabeth Taggard (Picayune) hit an RBI double to give PRCC a 1-0 lead.
BreAnna Corkern (Watson, La.; Live Oak) followed that up with another RBI double to extend the lead.
Mary Grace Turner (Leakesville; Greene County) scored the last run of the frame with an RBI single to put the Lady Wildcats up 3-0.
Taggard tacked on another in the top of the fourth inning when she reached on an error that scored Hannah Rasberry (Lucedale; George County).
East Mississippi (7-19 overall, 7-14 MACJC) finally plated a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it a 4-1 game.
The Lady Wildcats added on to their lead in the top of the seventh when Taggard hit a solo home run and Corkern hit an RBI triple to extend the PRCC lead to five.
East Mississippi plated another run in the bottom of the seventh but could not continue the rally, falling 6-2.
"We scored early on them in that first game," White said. "They had opportunities and we did a good job of cutting them off. We didn't hit as well in the first game but we did what we had to do to pick up the win."
Corkern, Taggard and Turner all led the team in hits with two while Taggard led the team in RBIs with two as well.
Grace Stringer (Moselle; South Jones) picked up the win for PRCC, her ninth of the season.
Stringer pitched a complete game going seven innings, allowing five hits, two walks and one earned run while striking out three.
"Grace has grown a lot," White said. "She gets in there and gets the job done."
Game 2: PRCC 24, EMCC 2 (5 inn.)
The Lady Wildcats once again struck first in the contest when Turner drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the first inning to put PRCC up 1-0.
East Mississippi answered back in the bottom of the first inning with two runs to take a 2-1 lead.
The top of the second inning saw the Lady Wildcats break the game open with 11 runs.
Brooke Fagan (Kiln; Hancock) got things started with an RBI single.
Taggard then scored from third on a passed ball. Corken then grounded into a fielders choice that scored Jenna Comeaux (Lafayette, La.; Comeaux).
Turner scored on an error to add to the lead.
Alyssa Pinero hit a sacrifice fly to score Gracie Barnett (Vancleave).
Neely McLeod (Lucedale; George County) got in on the action with an RBI single.
Taggard scored the last runs of the frame with a three-run double to give the Lady Wildcats a 12-2 lead heading into the bottom of the second inning.
Pinero and Rasberry tacked on to the lead in the top of the third inning with an RBI single and RBI double, respectively, giving PRCC a 14-2 lead.
The Lady Wildcats once again poured it on in the top of the fourth inning.
Turner crushed a three-run bomb to get things started for PRCC.
Not to be outdone, Pinero hit a three-run bomb herself shortly after.
McLeod scored the last run of the frame for the Lady Wildcats with a solo shot to left field to give PRCC a 21-2 lead.
Pinero added on to the lead in the top of the fifth inning when she reached on an error that scored Jenna Smith (D'Iberville).
Whitney Seymour (Long Beach; Gulfport) scored a run on a passed ball.
Ashley McLeod (Meridian; Clarkdale) drove in the last run for the Lady Wildcats, grounding into a fielder's choice to give PRCC a 24-2 lead.
All but one starter for the Lady Wildcats had a hit in the contest.
Neely McLeod led the team in hits with four while Pinero led the team in RBIs with six.
Turner had four RBIs while Taggard had three.
Alyssa Pinero drove in six runs in Game 2 of Pearl River's sweep over East Mississippi (KRISTI HARRIS/PRCC ATHLETICS)
"Alyssa hit the ball very well today," White said. "She was patient and saw the ball. Neely made the adjustments she needed too at the plate and really showed improvement in the second game.
Barnett started the game for PRCC, pitching four innings, allowing four hits and one walk.
Dallas Blaker (Bay St. Louis; Our Lady Academy) also pitched for the Lady Wildcats.
"Gracie Barnett really settled in and took care of business," White said. "When we're hitting the ball we're behind our pitchers. They throw with confidence when we're hitting the ball."
UP NEXT
The Lady Wildcats return home Wednesday when they take on Co-Lin in a doubleheader at Lady Wildcat Stadium set to start at 3:00 p.m.
The games will be live-streamed on PRCCAthletics.com
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on Twitter (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).
