MARIANNA, Fla. – The No. 2 Pearl River softball team traveled to Marianna, Fla., and split a doubleheader with NJCAA DI Chipola on Thursday. The Wildcats gutted out a 3-2 victory over the Indians in game one and dropped a hard-fought nightcap 5-3 in the final tuneup series before MACCC play.
"I thought it was the perfect series to play before going into conference play," Pearl River head coach Christie Meeks said. "We saw some things that we have to work on and clean up in practice. We also saw some really positive things. We are going to face very similar teams to Chipola in our conference and I think that it was a wonderful series to play before conference play begins.
"Despite the split on the day, it was a great cleanup for everybody going into conference. I think our energy was fantastic and we stayed in the game. We were coming back there at the end. I think there are so many things we can learn from the series. Both positive and negative going into conference."
GAME ONE
Pearl River (18-3 overall) first baseman Bryn Daughtery (Vancleave) provided the Wildcats with all of the offense they needed against Chipola (17-11).
After the Wildcats were held scoreless at the top of the first, Natalie Herrington (Petal) came out strong at the bottom of the first, striking out two of the three batters faced.
Daughtery wasted no time in the top of the second to put the Wildcats on the scoreboard, sending the third pitch of the at-bat deep over the left field wall, 1-0.
Chipola threatened to score in the bottom of the second. With a runner in scoring position, Wildcat second baseman Charlee Meadows (Piave; Greene County) hauled in a line drive to end the inning.
The Wildcats put a runner in scoring position in the top of the third but could not capitalize. Morgan Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.; Central) singled on a line drive to second base. Lavergne advanced to second on a Natalie Toups (Brandon; Clinton Christian Academy) sacrifice bunt. The Wildcats couldn't capitalize and entered the bottom of the third, holding on to a one-run lead.
Chipola tied the game in the bottom of the third, scoring on a two-out RBI double. With a runner on second, Meadows again came up big on defense, diving forward to grab a Chipola line drive for the third out.
Daughtery struck again in the top of the fourth. Lainee Bailey (Walker, La.) doubled to left field to open the inning and advanced to third on a Peyton Hoffmayer (Ocean Springs) sacrifice bunt. With a 2-0 count, Daughtery sent the third pitch deep over the left centerfield wall for a two-run home run, 3-1.
"Bryn had a fantastic first game; all three of the RBIs came from her," Meeks said. "Two home runs on the day, just a great game. The ball looked like a beach ball to her; she was seeing the ball so well."
Chipola would not go away quietly. In the bottom of the fifth, the Indians were able to plate one more run off an RBI single to left center, bringing the score to 3-2.
Both teams struggled to find offense in the sixth and seventh innings, and the Wildcats were able to close out the game with defensive gems by Lavergne and Meadows in the seventh inning, securing a 3-2 Wildcat victory.
"Meadows had three huge plays in the first game," Meeks commented on Meadows. "She made two diving catches and a dive up the middle and threw the runner out. She was really working hard behind her pitchers."
Herrington pitched a complete game, striking out five and allowing only two earned runs on three hits.
"Natalie on the mound made some really good things happen pitching-wise," Meeks said. "She felt good about her performance; it was a great outing for her."
GAME TWO
Chipola got on the scoreboard early in game two. With two Chipola runners on base, Wildcat pitcher Bailey struck out two batters. Chipola took advantage of a wild pitch and scored the game's first run, 1-0. A single up the middle scored another Chipola runner to bring the score to 2-0. Bailey worked herself out of the jam and struck out the next batter faced to end the inning.
Chipola added another run in the bottom of the second. With runners on first and third, Chipola scored on a throwing error on an attempted steal of second base, 3-0.
Lavergne put The River on the scoreboard in the top of the third with a line drive home run over the left field fence, 2-1. Bailey shut Chipola down in the bottom half of the third, striking out three of four batters faced.
The Pearl River offense kept the momentum going in the top of the fourth inning, plating a run to cut the deficit to one, 3-2. Daughtery kicked things off with a line drive single to left field. Klair Cuevas (Poplarville; Hancock) entered the game as a courtesy runner for Daughtery and advanced to second on an infield ground out by Ryleigh Wallace (Petal). With Hoffmayer at the plate, Cuevas advanced to third on a wild pitch. Hoffmayer plated Cuevas with a hard ground ball to center field, 3-2.
Chipola increased the lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring on a throwing error on a steal attempt, 4-2.
The Wildcats threatened in the top of the fifth but could not take advantage of runners in scoring position.
Chipola added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth, with a runner in scoring position; the Indians scored on an error on a deep fly to left field, 5-2.
Pearl River scored late in the top of the seventh to bring the Wildcats within two when Lavergne scored Taryn Jackson (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove) on an RBI single, 5-3.
Bailey pitched 5 1/3 innings, striking out 12 batters, and gave up one earned run on six hits.
Lavergne was 3-for-3 from the plate, with one home run, one double, two RBI and one run scored.
"In the second game, she (Lavergne) came up so many times where it was her moment and she thrives in those situations," Meeks said. "We kept saying that to each other, 'This is where you thrive.'"
NEXT UP
The Wildcats will open MACCC play at home Saturday against No. 11 Northeast for a 2/4 p.m. doubleheader. The game will be livestreamed for free at PRCCMedia.com.
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.
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