MOBILE, Ala. — The Pearl River softball team had an offensive explosion Tuesday afternoon when the Wildcats went on the road and swept Bishop State 16-1 and 14-0.
"They put everything together and today they were hitting on all cylinders," head coach Christie Meeks said. "We had great approaches and the girls took advantage of pitches that were left over the plate. On top of that our pitching staff also showed up today."
The 30 runs the Wildcats scored were the most in a doubleheader in the Christie Meeks era.
GAME 1: Pearl River 16, Bishop State 1 (5 inn.)
The Wildcats got the scoring started early in the top of the first inning when Keigan Pearson (Carriere; Pearl River Central) hit an RBI single to put the Wildcats up 1-0.
Bishop State responded in the bottom of the first, scoring on an RBI double to tie it up.
The Wildcats (7-3) immediately answered back plating six runs in the top of the second. After the Wildcats loaded the bases, Promise Shanks (Waynesboro; Wayne County) hit a two-run double to give the Wildcats the 3-1 lead. Taelor York (Choctaw; Clinton Christian Academy) hit a two-run triple and then scored after Sydney Runnels (Seminary; South Jones) reached on an error. Pearson then scored Runnels to make it a 7-1 Wildcat lead.
The Wildcats struck again in the top of the fourth when Makiya Hunter (Jackson; Clinton Christian Academy) hit an RBI double. McKall Holder (Hurley; East Central) followed that up with an RBI double of her own followed by an RBI single from Payton Lee (Picayune; Pearl River Central) to give the Wildcats a 10-1 lead.
The top of the fifth inning was where the Wildcats cashed in for the last time.
Abigail Thexton (Sumrall) scored the first run of the inning with an RBI single to make it 11-1.
Pearson and Holder followed that with an RBI single and RBI double respectively to make it 14-1.
After that, Aunie Rethmeyer (Belle Chasse, La.; Belle Chasse) hit a two-run double to score the last two runs of the contest for the Wildcats.
Pearson led the Wildcats in hits with four while Lee and Holder were second on the team with three each.
"Keigan's confidence is through the roof right now," Meeks said. "She went 4-for-4 again in Game 1. It is really no surprise because she is doing the same things at practice. McKall is making things happen at the plate, too.
"She reads her situation and really tries to execute."
Pearson and Holder both led the team in RBIs with three each.
Lindsay-Rose Sheffer (Lago Vista, Texas) picked up the win for the Wildcats, her second on the year. Sheffer went all five innings and posted a stat line of two hits, four walks and only one earned run against.
"Lindsay-Rose had a very sharp performance today," Meeks said. "I am so proud of her and Danielle (Lalonde), especially going into conference play this Saturday."
GAME 2: Pearl River 14, Bishop State 0 (5 inn.)
Lee put the Wildcats on the board first with a solo shot in the top of the second.
"Payton played well today," Meeks said. "She brought over everything she has been working on from practice and put it into action."
Madi Waters (Laurel; West Jones) scored next for the Wildcats after Emily Rigney (Waynesboro; Wayne County) grounded out to make it 2-0.
Hannah Miller (Kokomo; West Marion) then batted in a run with an RBI double to make it 3-0.
The fourth inning was where the Wildcats really flexed their muscles.
The scoring started Kambryn Chaisson (Picayune) scored on a Bishop State (1-6) error.
Miller and Holder followed that up with back-to-back RBI singles to make it 6-0.
Not to be outdone, Cassady Bradford (Saucier; West Harrison) and Erin Daughtery (Vancleave) hit a run-scoring double and triple respectively to give the Wildcats an 8-0 lead.
The Wildcats weren't done there though.
Chaisson hit a two-run double followed up by Waters scoring on another Bishop State error.
Miller then singled to plate another run before Bradford batted in another run with a ground out to score the last run of the contest for PRCC.
Miller led the Wildcats in hits with three and also led the Wildcats in RBIs with four.
Lalonde (Cecilia, La.; Cecilia) picked up her second win of the season for the Wildcats, pitching five innings and allowing only one hit and three walks while striking out five.
The shutout was the first of the season for the Wildcats.
"That's huge for us," Meeks said of the clean sheet.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats return to Poplarville on Saturday when they take on Northwest for their first doubleheader in MACCC play. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
HOW TO TUNE IN
To help fans stay connected to the Wildcats this semester, Pearl River once again plans to stream all of its home events at PRCCMedia.com. Most events will be broadcast at PRCCMedia.com/Gold but in some instances where multiple teams are at home, PRCC will also have a feed on its auxiliary channel at PRCCMedia.com/Maroon. Fans who have Roku or Amazon Fire devices can also watch the Wildcats on their televisions by downloading the "Pearl River CC" channel from their app store.
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on Twitter (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).