GALVESTON, Texas. — Pearl River softball got its season started Friday as it competed in the Island Invitational hosted by Galveston College. The Wildcats got off to a strong start with a 12-1 run-rule victory over No. 18 Lake Land but fell against Navarro 9-3 in game two.
"We are really proud of today," Pearl River coach Christie Meeks said. "They really came out and fought. Our energy was fantastic. I think a couple of errors really hurt us in the second game, but for the most part we are really happy with how we played today. We want to continue to build off our successes from today."
PEARL RIVER 12, LAKE LAND 1.
The Wildcats (1-1 overall) entrusted Brinson Anne Rogers (Statesboro, Ga.) with the first start of 2023 and the sophomore right-hander instantly picked up where she left off. Despite walking a batter in the first inning, Rogers struck out all three more to leave the inning unscathed.
Another quick three-punchout inning in the second sent PRCC back to the plate. Jena Pacheco (Vancleave) and Destiney Gary (Greenwell Springs, La; Central)¬ each drew walks in the inning before Dallyn Nance (Nanih Waiya) stepped to the dish. After taking a ball on the first pitch, Nance smacked a double into center field to drive in both runners.
The Wildcats were firing on all cylinders in the third inning, putting up a six spot to increase the lead to 8-0. Julianah Overstreet (Vancleave) started things off with a five-pitch walk and Cassidy Cartwright (Poplarville) doubled into the left field gap. Bryn Daughtery (Vancleave) hit a hard ground ball past the second baseman to push across both runs. After Pacheco walked, Klair Cuevas (Poplarville; Hancock) drove in a run with a single to force a Lake Land (RECORD) pitching change. CharLee Meadows (Piave; Greene County) drove in the next run for the Wildcats, knocking a sacrifice fly into right field. PRCC caught the Lakers napping for the next run. With Cuevas standing on third, Gary made a steal attempt at second base. When the catcher threw the ball down, Cuevas took off and slid into home safely. Morgan Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.; Central) capped off the big inning by doubling into right field to pick up a pair of RBIs.
Rogers ran into a little bit of trouble in the top of the fourth inning, giving up a single and two straight walks to load the bases. The 6-foot-4 right-hander picked up two quick outs, but LLC smacked an RBI single into left field to break the shutout, 8-1.
The Wildcats pushed the game into run-rule territory in the bottom of the fourth inning, plating four runs to go ahead 12-1. Cartwright led off the inning with a single before coming around to score on a Daughtery double. The Lakers picked up back-to-back strikeouts and looked to end the threat, but then Gary drew a walk. With Meadows facing a 1-1 count, the freshman blasted the third pitch of the at-bat deep over the left field wall for a 3-run home run.
Rogers worked around two walks in the top of the fifth inning to strike out the side and end the game with a 12-1, run-rule victory.
Cartwright led the Wildcats at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance and two runs scored. Nance and Daughtery each collected a pair of hits. Meadows' four RBIs were the most in the contest.
"She really had a phenomenal day today," Meeks said. "She came out and did exactly what she was supposed to do in the four hole. She was confident and never looked overwhelmed at the plate. She attacked the pitches that she saw."
Rogers pitched all five innings, striking out 12 batters against six walks, two hits and one run.
"Fantastic outing from Brinson. She's continued to work and have more drive and determination," Meeks said. "We loved getting to see her battle and fight in her last two innings. 12 strikeouts in five innings is really impressive."
NAVARRO 9, PEARL RIVER 3.
In PRCC's second contest of the day, the Wildcats got off to a rough start with Navarro plating three runs in the first inning on a 2-run homer and a passed ball. The Bulldogs went on to add another run in the second inning on an RBI single to make the score 4-1.
Pearl River snatched a run back in the bottom of the second inning. Cartwright led off things with a double before advancing to third on a groundout. Ashlyn Dean (Picayune; Pearl River Central) then put a ball in play that was miss handled by the Navarro first baseman and allowed Cartwright to cross the plate.
In the Bulldog half of the third, a run scored on an error to make the score line 5-1.
PRCC pulled a run close in the bottom of the fourth thanks to Cartwright. The center fielder stepped to the dish and smacked the first pitch that he saw deep over the wall for a solo homer.
An error helped the Wildcats push across another run in the fifth inning. Meadows began the inning with a double before a bunt from Nance resulted in an overthrow by the pitcher. The run made the score 5-3.
Navarro added another run in the sixth with a solo shot, 6-3. The Bulldogs capitalized on a Wildcat miscue in the top of the seventh inning, scoring three runs on an error to extend their lead, 9-3.
Cartwright was the only Wildcat to collect multiple hits in the game.
Bella Crawley (Ocean Springs) pitched one inning, giving up three runs on two hits and one walk.
Natalie Herrington (Petal) pitched the final six innings. She gave up seven runs with six being unearned. She struck out 11 batters against four hits and two walks.
NEXT UP
Pearl River returns to the field tomorrow with a pair of games against Alvin Community College and Galveston College. The games are set to be played at 12:30 and 3 p.m.
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