‘Resilient’ Wildcats fight for split at No. 7 Jones College

Dylan Dunaway - PRCC Sports Information Director

ELLISVILLE, Miss. — The No. 18 Pearl River softball team bent but didn't break Wednesday night, fighting back from a 3-2 game-one loss to beat No. 7 Jones College 2-1 in the nightcap.

"We played well enough to win both games. A few things just didn't go our way in the first game," head coach Christie Meeks said. "We were composed and understood what the objective was in both games. The girls controlled their emotions in both games. In game two, we were resilient. We asked them to compete every pitch for 14 innings, and they did that today. I'm very proud of how we played."

GAME ONE

Despite a stellar effort from Lizzie Meeks (Ripley; Pine Grove) in the circle, the Pearl River (33-14 overall; 17-7 MACCC) offense couldn't do damage with runners in scoring position against Jones College (43-8; 21-5).

The Bobcats broke into the run column in the bottom of the third with an RBI single and an RBI fielder's choice, 2-0. An error and a Cailey Pervel (Carriere; Pearl River Central) single put two runners aboard in the fourth, but three quick outs closed the frame without any Wildcat damage.

An additional JC run scored in the fourth, cashing in on a Wildcat error with an eventual RBI single. Pearl River got the run back in the top of the fifth. Kai Goodman (New Orleans, La.; John Curtis) singled, swiped second and scored on an error, 3-1.

Pearl River made it interesting in the seventh. Goodman singled, and Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Central) moved her around to the bases with an RBI double. Unfortunately, PRCC couldn't get the big hit it needed afterward and fell 3-2 in the contest.

Goodman was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases at the top of the lineup. Eaves was 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. 

Meeks threw six innings of three-run softball, scattering seven hits and three walks. She struck out three.

"Lizzie was fantastic," Meeks said of her pitcher. "She stayed within herself, worked around the plate and kept the ball down."

GAME TWO

Ana-Grace Garcia (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's) was as electric as she has been all season in her game-two start, but a first-inning Jones College RBI single had her and the Wildcats in an unfortunate situation into the late innings of the contest.

The Bobcat starting pitcher was twirling a gem throughout the night, regularly sitting down the Wildcats with the strikeout. A lot of teams could have quit fighting with the lack of success, but Pearl River didn't. In the sixth, Eaves singled, stole second and moved to third on an error by the Bobcats. Pearl River's captain, Caroline Lindsey (Gulfport), activated her clutch gene two batters later, smacking an opposite-field RBI single to even the game up, 1-1.

"It's hard to say anything more about how great she is," Meeks said of Lindsey. "She's our captain for a reason."

An error and a walk had Garcia in some trouble in the bottom of the sixth, but the right-hander induced a lineout and punched out a batter to close the frame. The magic continued for the Wildcats in the seventh — doing all the damage with two outs. Emmaleigh Theriot (Prairieville, La.; St. Amant) took a hit by pitch and quickly got into scoring position with a stolen base. Eaves was at the dish and dropped the fourth pitch that was thrown to her into right center field for a go-ahead RBI single, 2-1 PRCC.

"Natalie did such a good job of reeling it in and fighting in her last at-bat," Meeks said. "She worked the count and got her pitch"

Garcia wasted no time ending the game in the bottom half, forcing a pop out to foul territory, striking out a batter and getting a groundout to end the game and secure a split.

Goodman and Eaves each were 2-for-4 in the game. Eaves and Lindsey each drove in a run. Maeli Ben (Conehatta; Newton County) walked twice.

Garcia threw seven innings of one-run softball. She allowed just three hits and two walks, striking out eight Bobcats.

"She was unbelievable," Meeks said. "After she gave up the first run, we talked about fighting with her stuff. She spun the ball and kept it off the plate."

NEXT UP

Pearl River returns to the field Saturday as it hosts Northeast for the regular-season finale.

TUNE IN

All home Pearl River softball games are livestreamed for free at PRCCMedia.com/Gold. Fans with 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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