POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 15 Pearl River softball team pitched it well, and the offense got timely hits as the Wildcats bounced back from a tough weekend series with a sweep of East Central.
The Wildcats run-ruled the Warriors 8-0 in five innings in the opener and won the nightcap 6-2.
"We talked about it a few days back that we needed to do a better job of passing the bat. We needed to try to get it back to the top of the lineup," head coach Christie Meeks said. "We did that today. In the circle, our pitchers did a good job of knocking the approach and sticking to the plan. I was really proud of the team today."
GAME ONE
With Ballard Kraft (Liberty; Amite School Center) in the circle and the Pearl River (20-9 overall; 4-2 MACCC) offense firing on all cylinders, the Wildcats cruised past East Central (14-8; 4-4) in the opener.
Kraft punched out two of three batters in the top of the first, and Pearl River immediately backed up her efforts with a three-run bottom half. Kai Goodman (New Orleans, La.; John Curtis) and Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Central) were standing in scoring position when Cailey Pervel (Carriere; Pearl River Central) ripped a two-run single into left field. The very next batter, Caroline Lindsey (Gulfport), brought her home by burning the right fielder with a double off the right field wall, 3-0.
Kraft delivered a three-up, three down third inning and worked herself out of danger in the fourth to send the Wildcats back to the plate for some insurance runs. The Wildcat offense bashed the ball in the frame, scoring five runs. Caitlyn Riche (Walker, La.) reached on an error and moved around to third on a Carsyn Mott (Collinsville; West Lauderdale) double. Goodman brought both runners across the plate by slapping a single into center field, 5-0. A few batters later, Pervel stepped to the plate in another big situation, walking to the plate with two runners on. The freshman stung a 2-1 pitch and sent a laser flying over the wall in straightaway center field, 8-0.
Kraft went back out in the top of the fifth and worked around a two-out walk to retire the side and close out the game on the run rule.
Pervel led things at the dish for PRCC, finishing 3-for-3 with two runs, five RBIs and a homer. Goodman was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs and three stolen bases. Mott also had two hits, going 2-for-2 with a double.
Kraft threw all five innings, allowing just two hits and two walks. She punched out eight of the 18 batters she faced.
GAME TWO
The Wildcats fell behind early in game two as the leadoff batter for the Warriors tripled and scored on a passed ball, 1-0. Luckily, PRCC's offense had an answer in the bottom half. Goodman walked, stole second and moved to third on a flyout. Eaves drew a walk and tried to get caught in a rundown, but instead, the throw from the catcher was wild and went into center field to allow Goodman to score 1-1. With two outs in the inning, PRCC did some more damage. Lindsey stepped to the plate and was first pitch swinging, sending a two-run home run over the wall in left center field. Maeli Ben (Conehatta; Newton County) made it back-to-back jacks moments later, sending a 3-1 pitch the opposite way for a solo home run, 4-1.
Pervel's fantastic day at the plate continued in the third as she unloaded on a hanging breaking ball and sent it well beyond the left field deck outside Wildcat Stadium for a solo home run, 5-1.
ECCC got a run back in the fifth, driving a two-out single into right field, 5-2. The Wildcats immediately matched the run in the bottom half. Peyton Hoffmayer (Ocean Springs) had one of the shorter sacrifice flies a player can have as her ball just out of the infield was caught by the Warrior second baseman on the run. Eaves got a good jump at third and crossed the plate, 6-2.
Garcia went back to work in the sixth and seventh innings. The right-hander worked around a leadoff single in the sixth and retired the side in order in the seventh to end the game.
Pervel was 1-for-2 with a homer and a walk. Lindsey was 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs. Ben was 1-for-3 with a solo shot, and Riche tallied PRCC's only other hit with a double.
Garcia threw a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks. She struck out an incredible 14 batters.
NEXT UP
The Wildcats remain home Saturday for a 1/3 p.m. doubleheader against Holmes.
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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