POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 6 Pearl River softball team racked up 27 runs, 23 hits and 15 extra-base hits in an impressive offensive showing against Lamar State, winning 15-3 and 12-1 in five innings.
"I'm so proud of this team. They are so much fun," head coach Christie Meeks said. "How awesome was it that everyone that came off the bench came in and impacted the game with hits. It was so awesome to have so many contributors."
GAME ONE
Natalie Herrington (Petal) got off to a hot start in the contest, sending all three batters that walked to the plate back to the dugout on strikes. Pearl River (14-0 overall) rewarded her with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Morgan Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.; Central) led things off with a double and moved to third on a passed ball. Natalie Toups (Brandon; Clinton Christian Academy) drew a walk, and then PRCC executed the double steal to perfection, forcing a throw down to second that allowed Lavergne to swipe home plate 1-0.
Herrington ran into some trouble in the second as a leadoff walk and a single led to a two-run frame for the Seahawks (6-8) and a 2-1 lead.
The Wildcats answered in their half of the second, putting up a four-spot to retake the lead, 5-2. Caroline Lindsey (Gulfport) and Klair Cuevas (Poplarville; Hancock) picked up a double and a single to get the first two runners aboard. Following a strikeout, Alexa Womack (Prairieville, La.; Dutchtown) smoked a two-run double down the left field line. A few batters later, Lainee Bailey (Walker, La.) earned a two-run double of her own to cap the scoring in the inning.
The Wildcats tacked on two more runs in the third frame of the evening. With the bases loaded, Womack was hit by a pitch to drive in the first. Lavergne followed by picking up an RBI with a groundout, 7-2.
Lamar State picked up a run of its own in the fourth inning before the PRCC offense absolutely exploded in the bottom half. Bryn Daughtery (Vancleave) set the tone right at the start, sending the first pitch thrown to her flying over the center field wall for a solo home run. A few batters later, Madelyn Bourgoyne (Walker, La.) earned a pinch-hit appearance and belted a ball off the left field wall for an RBI double. Womack followed suit by picking up an RBI double of her own — this time dropping one between the left and center fielder. A hard-hit single off Lavergne's bat brought home Womack. After a Toups walk, Peyton Hoffmayer (Ocean Springs) picked up a pinch-hit two-run double. Sophia Montiforte (Biloxi) was the next Wildcat to earn a plate appearance off the bench and dunked an RBI single into left field. Lindsey capped the scoring by lacing a double over the center fielder's head for an RBI, 15-3.
Herrington put the game to rest in the fifth inning, working around a walk to retire the side without any damage.
The Wildcats tallied 15 hits in the contest, led by Lindsey's 3-for-4 effort. Womack went 2-for-2 with two doubles and three RBIs. Lavergne finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Toups reached base in all four of her plate appearances, walking three times and being hit by a pitch once.
Herrington threw five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks. She racked up seven strikeouts.
GAME TWO
Although Bailey was dealing in the circle the first two frames of game two, the Wildcat offense started off slowly and was unable to scratch across any runs.
Lamar State struck first in the top of the third, cashing in on a one-out double thanks to a Wildcat miscue, 1-0. The Wildcats made up for the defensive mistake in the bottom half of the inning, striking for five runs to move ahead 5-1. Womack reached base after being hit by a pitch and moved to second on a CharLee Meadows (Piave; Greene County) single. Bailey helped herself out by ripping a two-run double into left field. Daughtery struck for her second home run of the day shortly after — one of the most unique three-run home runs that fans could see. She ripped a laser right back up the middle that looked like it was going to hit the top of the wall. The Seahawk center fielder leaped to try to make the catch but instead catapulted the ball over the wall for a home run.
Bailey wasted no time sending the red-hot Wildcat offense back to hit in, delivering a quick 1-2-3 inning. PRCC picked up right where it left off in the fourth frame, tallying seven runs. Lavergne picked up a bases-loaded walk, and Womack scored on a passed ball before Bailey hit one of the longest home runs of the season, launching a three-run shot deep over the outfield deck in left field. A Caitlyn Riche (Walker, La.) RBI single scored another Wildcat run, and Taryn Jackson (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove) crossed the plate on a passed ball to cap the scoring, 12-1.
Bailey walked right back to the circle in the fifth inning and promptly retired the Seahawks to end the contest in a 12-1 run-rule victory.
Bailey went 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Riche finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Daughtery picked up three RBIs in her 1-for-3 effort.
Bailey threw five innings, giving up one unearned run on five hits and two walks. She struck out six batters.
UP NEXT
Pearl River will have a few days off before returning to action on Tuesday for a 3/5 p.m. doubleheader against Parkland.
TICKETS
Tickets are on sale now at PRCCAthletics.com/Tickets. General admission tickets are $8 per game. Season passes can be purchased for $75 for softball or a softball/baseball season pass can be purchased for $100.
HOW TO WATCH
The Wildcats will once again livestream all games for free at PRCCMedia.com/gold. Fans who have Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch the Wildcat broadcasts by downloading the "Pearl River CC" channel from their app stores.
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on Twitter (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).