No. 11 Pearl River run-rules Coahoma twice in Sunday sweep
Dylan Dunaway - PRCC Sports Information Director
POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 11 Pearl River softball team earned its sixth sweep since MACCC play began on Sunday afternoon, picking up a pair of run-rule victories over Coahoma. The Wildcats took game one 10-1 in five innings and secured a six-inning 12-4 victory in game two.
“They just kept fighting and doing what they needed to do,” Pearl River head coach Christie Meeks said. “I’m really proud of them. These girls don’t just come in and work for nothing, they come in and work for each other. That’s what they showed today. They started fighting for each other and that was a big deal.”
GAME ONE
Coahoma (6-28 overall; 1-21 MACCC) struck first in game one. After the leadoff runner reached base by way of a walk, the Tigers put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to second. CCC snuck a single past the diving Morgan Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.; Central) for an RBI, 1-0.
Pearl River (32-9; 16-4) wasted no time getting back into the ball game in its half of the first. Lavergne led off the game with a double off the centerfield wall before coming around to score on a single by Julianah Overstreet (Vancleave). Her former high school teammate Bryn Daughtery (Vancleave) walked into the batter’s box and mashed a two-run shot over the right centerfield wall, 3-1. Cassidy Cartwright (Poplarville) sent a fly ball off the left field wall and cruised into second for an RBI double. She came around to cross home plate on a Tiger error that was off the bat of CharLee Meadows (Piave; Greene County). Natalie Toups (Brandon; Clinton Christian Academy) was the next Wildcat to head to the plate and the slap hitter ran out an infield single to drive in Meadows, 6-1.
PRCC added on another run in the second, 7-1. Destiney Gary (Greenwell Springs, La.; Central) drove a double into the gap and came around to score on an RBI single by Overstreet.
In the third inning, Marisa West (Citronelle, Ala.; LeRoy) drew a five-pitch walk and came around to score on a Meadows double. Toups followed it up by lacing an RBI double down the left field line. Lavergne capped the scoring when she scorched a ball off the second baseman’s glove to bring home a run, 10-1.
Pearl River starter Bella Crawley (Ocean Springs) shut the Tigers down over the next two innings to secure a run-rule victory in five innings. Crawley finished with five innings pitched, allowing one run on one hit and two walks. She struck out a season-high 10 batters in the contest.
“Bella was moving the ball well,” Meeks said. “She changed up her speeds, changed up her movement and her spin was super tight. I was proud of her. She settled in after that first inning and did her thing.”
Toups led the way offensively, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs and one run scored. Overstreet was the only other Wildcat with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
GAME TWO
Coahoma again was the first team to score in game two, putting up a four-spot led by a double and a homer. In the bottom half of the first frame, Lavergne tucked a fly ball just inside fair territory and deep in the right field territory which allowed her to make it to third with a triple. Three pitches later, Gary sent a fly ball to center field for a sacrifice fly, 4-1.
Dallyn Nance (Nanih Waiya) celebrates after hitting a double in Pearl River's 12-4 victory over Coahoma. (PHOTO: Richard Gleber/PRCC Athletics)
PRCC snatched the lead back in the third inning in big-time fashion. Lavergne led off the inning by smacking a fly ball into right field. The Tiger outfielder was battling the sun and couldn’t secure the catch, resulting in a two-base error. Two pitches later, Gary laced an RBI single into the outfield. Gary scored soon after when Daughtery sent a line drive single into left field. A Cartwright single followed by a Dallyn Nance (Nanih Waiya) hit by pitch loaded up the bases for Klair Cuevas (Poplarville; Hancock). Cuevas worked her way to a 1-1 count before sending a rocket over the right field wall for a grand slam and the lead,
7-4.
“Klair continuously works,” Meeks said. “She doesn’t let a lot of things bother her. She’s calm and composed. She doesn’t even try to hit the home runs and she does. She’s a lot of fun to watch.”
The Wildcats added another run in the fifth inning, 8-4. With Cartwright standing on second, Cuevas hit a ball off the end of the bat that the Tiger second baseman couldn’t handle, allowing Cartwright to score.
Four more runs scored for PRCC in the sixth to help Pearl River secure a 12-4 run-rule victory. Toups reached on an error to begin the frame and moved to third on a single by Lavergne. Gary smashed a fly ball into right field that got caught in the wind and carried until it hit the wall for a two-run triple. Overstreet then knocked a sacrifice fly into left field to score Gary. Nance secured the walk-off run-rule victory soon after with an RBI double into left field.
Brinson Anne Rogers (Statesboro, Ga.) entered the game in relief and threw 5 2/3 innings, striking out 10 batters and allowing one hit.
Daughtery had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Gary finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs and Cuevas finished 1-for-3 with four RBIs and a grand slam. Lavergne, Cartwright and Nance all had two hits in the game.
UP NEXT
Pearl River returns to Wildcat Stadium on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader against East Central.
TICKETING
Season and single-game tickets for Pearl River softball are available now and can be purchased at PRCCAthletics.com/Tickets.
CASHLESS BOX OFFICE
To help improve traffic flow and fan experience, PRCC athletics box offices are cashless in 2022-23. Only credit and debit cards will be accepted at the box office. Fans are encouraged to beat the lines and purchase their tickets in advance.
TUNE IN
Pearl River livestreams all home games for free at PRCCMedia.com. Fans who have Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch the Wildcat broadcasts by downloading the "Pearl River CC" channel from their app stores.
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