ELLISVILLE, Miss. — It came down to the very last out, but the No. 4 seed Pearl River softball team was unable to put away No. 1 seed Jones College Thursday night, falling 4-3 in the MACCC Tournament winner's bracket game.
"This team continues to fight down to the very end," Pearl River coach Christie Meeks said. "We just have to come out here tomorrow and fight to advance."
Dallyn Nance (Nanih Waiya) got things going with a bang for Pearl River (31-16 overall). After working a 1-2 count, the freshman catcher blasted the next pitch deep over the center field wall for an early 1-0 lead.
Jones College (41-8) evened things up 1-1 in the bottom of the first, hitting an almost identical long ball as the earlier Wildcat homer.
PRCC snatched the lead back in the third inning, going up 2-1. Taelor York (Choctaw; Clinton Christian) opened things up by lining a single off the glove of the lunging Bobcat third baseman. Hannah Miller (Kokomo; West Marion) moved her into scoring position by drawing a walk. Julianah Overstreet (Vancleave) then looped a ball into right field. As the Jones College right fielder crashed in to try to make the catch, the ball dropped just in front of her and bounced under her glove. The hit allowed York to cross home plate.
The Bobcats threatened to even things up in the bottom of the inning, walking twice before advancing both runners to scoring position. Rogers made quick work of the next batter though, striking her out on three pitches.
Pearl River grabbed a run in the top of the fifth inning to go ahead 3-1. York got the inning started with a walk and Nance followed it up by laying down a perfect bunt for a single. Nance advanced to third base on a fielder's choice and Payton Lee (Carriere; Pearl River Central) promptly drove her in with a single past the diving Jones College shortstop.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Jones loaded the bases on three walks before cutting the deficit to one run at 3-2. The Bobcats then walked it off with a two-run double, taking the contest 4-3.
Rogers finished her outing with 6 2/3 innings pitched, allowing four runs on three hits and seven walks. She was one shy of double-digit strikeouts with nine.
Overstreet and Nance led the way at the plate, both collecting a pair of hits. Miller and York each walked twice.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats move to a do-or-die game tomorrow against Northeast. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.
TICKETS
Jones College encourages all fans to purchase tickets online at JCBobcats.com/tickets. Day passes are $10 while a tournament pass is $30.
TUNE IN
All games at the 2022 MACCC Tournament will be livestreamed at JCBobcats.com/Watch. For updated brackets, scores, schedules and more visit tournament central at bit.ly/2022MACCCSB.
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