POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 16 Pearl River softball team got conference play started with a bang Sunday evening against Southwest, run-ruling the Bears in both games. PRCC won both games in six innings, taking the opener 10-2 and the nightcap 8-0.
"The energy in the beginning of conference games is hard to prepare for. That's why you have to play a tough non-conference like we did," head coach Christie Meeks said. "I'm really proud of what our offense has started to do lately. I'm also extremely excited about what our pitchers have been doing as well. I hope we can keep it rolling."
GAME ONE
Ballard Kraft (Liberty; Amite School Center) picked up right where she left off to start the day against Southwest (6-12 overall; 0-2 MACCC). A few days after throwing a 15-strikeout no-hitter, Kraft punched out six in the first two innings of the day and gave up just one hit.
Pearl River (16-7; 2-0) scored four runs in the bottom of the second to give Kraft something to work with, and the Wildcats went station-to-station to get it done. Emmaleigh Theriot (Prairieville, La.; St. Amant) started with an RBI single, and Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Central) followed with a two-run single. A pitch hit Caroline Lindsey (Gulfport) to load the bases up, and Anna Kate Rounsaville (Gulfport) was also plunked for an RBI, 4-0.
Kraft had her only slip-up of the afternoon in the third frame, allowing two walks to cross the plate on a two-run double as SMCC sliced the lead in half, 4-2. Luckily for the right-handed pitcher, PRCC matched it in the bottom half of the inning. Theriot picked up her second RBI single of the day and then intentionally got caught in a rundown so Kai Goodman (New Orleans, La.; John Curtis) could steal home 6-2.
Kraft had to work herself out of trouble in the fourth but was dialed in during the fifth and sixth frames, retiring the side in order during both.
PRCC put a close to the game in the bottom of the sixth. Carsyn Mott (Collinsville; West Lauderdale) sent a 1-2 pitch high into the sky, and it sailed over the wall in left field for a solo home run, 7-2. Theriot single and eventually scored on an Eaves single to push the game to a six-run lead, 8-2. Lindsey didn't wait much longer to wrap up the game. The sophomore saw three pitches before smacking the fourth the opposite way and over the fence for a two-run walk-off home run, 10-2.
Kraft tossed six innings, allowing two runs on two hits and four walks. She struck out 11 Bears to run her total up to 26 in the last two games.
Theriot led the charge at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Eaves also had a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 and driving in three runs. Goodman drew three walks, stole two bases and scored two runs.
GAME TWO
Pearl River got off to another good start in game two, plating a first-inning run. Goodman walked, stole second and was at third base after a wild pitch. Theriot then grounded out to drive Goodman in, 1-0.
Ana-Grace Garcia (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's) struck out three batters in the top of the second to run her total up to four through the first two innings of the day.
PRCC gave her a second run of support in the third. With Eaves in scoring position, Lindsey smacked a ball right back where it came from for an RBI single, 2-0. The long ball helped PRCC double its lead in the fourth. Peyton Hoffmayer (Ocean Springs) stepped into the right-handed batter's box and obliterated a 1-0 pitch, sending it deep over the wall in left field for a two-run home run, 4-0.
Things could have spiraled on Garcia in the fifth. She allowed a leadoff double but sandwiched a strikeout between two flyouts to close out the frame. Cailey Pervel (Carriere; Pearl River Central) gave PRCC a boost in the bottom half of the frame, coming off the bench and delivering a two-run single to push the Wildcat lead to 6-0.
Garcia tossed another clean inning in the sixth, allowing Pearl River to finish things off in the bottom half. Mott and Goodman singled to open the frame and moved into scoring position on an error, bringing up Eaves. The freshman smacked a hard-hit ball right at the shortstop that went through her legs and went all the way to the wall, allowing both runners to score and ending the game in an 8-0 run-rule.
Garcia threw a shutout, allowing just two hits and a walk. She struck out six Bears.
Hoffmayer was elite at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two runs, two RBIs and a homer. Lindsey went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Goodman went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.
NEXT UP
Pearl River is back at home Tuesday for a 3/5 p.m. doubleheader against Lansing.
TUNE IN
All home Pearl River baseball games are livestreamed for free at PRCCMedia.com/Gold. Fans with 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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