GALVESTON, TEXAS – The Pearl River softball team split games on day two of the Island Invitational in Galveston, Texas. The Wildcats opened the day with a 6-0 loss to Alvin Community College. PRCC rebounded in game two with a 6-0 victory over Galveston College.
"I feel like we came out flat and did not adjust to Alvin's pitcher. We made some mistakes on defense and just did not pass the bat," PRCC head coach Christie Meeks. "We were proud of how quickly they dropped that loss and moved on. They came out hot against Galveston and stayed hot the entire game.
ALVIN 6, PEARL RIVER 0
The Wildcats (2-2) struggled to find offense in game one against Alvin (1-1). Mya Young (Paxton, Fla.) got her first career start for Pearl River in the third game of the Island Invitational.
Young recorded her first strikeout on the first batter faced.
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, the Wildcats' defense was able to keep Alvin out of the scoring column in the top of the second inning. With bases loaded, Young forced the Alvin hitter into hitting a ground ball to shortstop Morgan Lavernge (Baton Rouge, La.; Central) who delivered the throw to first base for the final out of the inning.
Alvin got on the board in the top of the third inning. After a leadoff single to right field, the second batter of the inning hit a two-run home run to left field, 2-0.
The Wildcats made a pitching change with Natalie Herrington (Petal) relieving Young during the first batter. With a batter on first, Alvin was able to advance the runner to third on a Wildcat error. On the next play, Alvin scored after a Wildcat error, 3-0. The Wildcats stopped an Alvin score on the next batter as left fielder Destiny Gary (Greenwell Springs, La.; Central) threw out the runner at home. Later in the inning, Alvin scored two more runs off an outfield single with bases loaded to bring the lead to 5-0 through four innings.
After both teams were held scoreless in the fifth inning, Alvin plated the final run of the game in the top of the sixth inning bringing their lead to 6-0.
BY THE NUMBERS
Young pitched for three innings with two strikeouts, five hits, two walks and two earned runs. Herrington struck out three in relief while walking two and surrendering four earned runs off of five hits.
PEARL RIVER 6, GALVESTON 0
The Wildcats' bats came alive in game two against Galveston. Dallyn Nance (Nanih Waiya) led off with a double to open the game. Nance advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lavergne. Julianah Overstreet (Vancleave) put another Wildcat runner on base after she was hit by a Galveston pitch. Nance scored on a Cassidy Cartwright (Poplarville) single to center field. Two batters later a Bryn Daughtery (Vancleave) double scored Overstreet and Cartwright to push the Wildcat lead to 3-0 at the end of the first.
Brinson Anne Rogers (Statesboro, Ga.) picked up where she left off from Friday's twelve-strikeout performance by striking out two of the first three Galveston batters she faced.
The PRCC offense got on the board in the top of the second. After a walk on balls, Nance advanced to third on a Lavergne single. Nance scored on an Overstreet single to center field. Rogers picked up two more strikeouts in the bottom of the second and the Wildcats led 4-0 after two innings.
Rogers continued her dominance in the bottom of the third inning with two more strikeouts. Gary was able to close out the inning by hauling in a line drive in foul territory.
The Wildcat defense came up big in the bottom of the fourth inning. With bases loaded, CharLee Meadows (Piave, Miss.; Greene County) snagged a line drive for the third out and stopped any Galveston momentum.
PRCC extended its lead in the top of the fifth inning with a Jena Pacheco (Vancleave) single to centerfield scoring Overstreet from second base. The Wildcats carried a 5-0 lead heading into the sixth inning.
Gary opened the top of the sixth inning with a bang when she sent the 2-0 pitch over the center field wall for a solo home run and pushed the lead to 6-0.
Rogers took over and struck out four batters in the last two frames to close out the game.
LEADING THE WAY
Lavergne had two hits in four plate appearances. Daughtery led the Wildcats with two RBI. Nance and Overstreet both scored twice with Overstreet also contributing with an RBI. Gary had the Wildcats' lone homerun of the game.
On the mound, Rogers pitched a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts while only surrendering two hits and two walks.
"BA is really leading this staff like one would hope as a sophomore," Meeks said. "She is confident and continues to make adjustments! Proud of another great outing from her."
NEXT UP
The Wildcats will be back in action Friday in the Bullets Tournament in Youngsville, La. PRCC will take on South Arkansas Community College at 4:30 p.m. and National Park College at 7:00 p.m.
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