POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 15 Pearl River softball team split its first home doubleheader of the year Wednesday afternoon. The Wildcats earned a come-from-behind 4-3 victory in game one and dropped the second game 10-2 in five innings.

 

"We kept them off balance and kept the runs limited in the first game," head coach Christie Meeks said. "We have to keep our head on straight. We're playing these good teams for a reason. It's to keep building us. We have to grow up fast and fix some mistakes."

 

PEARL RIVER 4, WALLACE STATE 3.
Pearl River (10-7 overall) fell behind three batters into the day against Wallace State – Hanceville (15-4) as the Lions bashed a solo homer, 1-0. Pearl River starting pitcher Ana-Grace Garcia (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's) settled in after the run and kept the Lions off the scoresheet through four innings.

 

The Wildcat offense woke up in the bottom of the fourth with Carsyn Mott (Collinsville; West Lauderdale) taking charge. Mott stepped to the dish with two outs and a runner in scoring position. She worked herself into a full count before blasting the sixth pitch thrown to her over the wall in left field for a go-ahead two-run homer, 2-1.

 

Wallace State – Hanceville propelled itself back ahead In the fifth, using a two-run triple to get it done. The Wildcats brought in Ballard Kraft (Liberty; Amite School Center) with a runner in scoring position, and she forced a groundout and a flyout to close the frame, 3-2.

 

Mott came up big for the Wildcats a second time in the sixth inning. Maeli Ben (Conehatta; Newton County) began the inning with a double, and a pitch hit Anna Kate Rounsaville (Gulfport). Kirsten Williams (Saucier; West Harrison) dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt to move each runner up. Mott then had her second game-changing swing. The center fielder roped a ball into the right-center field gap, driving in both runs and putting PRCC ahead 4-3.

 

Kraft went right back to work in the seventh. The right-hander struck out the first two Lion hitters of the frame. After a two-out single, she induced a quick flyout to right to wrap up the game.

 

Garcia threw 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks. She struck out four Lions. Kraft earned the win by pitching the final 2 2/3 innings of the game. She did not allow a run and scattered three hits. She tallied a pair of punchouts. 

 

Mott was PRCC's lone player with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Kai Goodman (New Orleans, La.; John Curtis) finished 1-for-3 and stole a pair of bases.

 

WALLACE STATE 10, PEARL RIVER 2.
A rough first inning doomed the Wildcats in game two as three first-inning errors allowed Wallace State - Hanceville to snatch a 4-0 lead. The Lions tacked on a run in the third, 5-0.

 

Caroline Lindsey (Gulfport) drove in PRCC's first run of the contestin the third inning, hitting a sacrifice fly into center field, 1-0. The momentum was short-lived as the Lions hit a two-run double, a two-run homer, and a solo shot to move in front 10-1 in the fourth.

 

Pearl River got one run back in the fifth as Cailey Pervel (Carriere; Pearl River Central) intentionally got caught in a run down to allow Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Central) to cross the plate. It wasn't enough to avoid the run rule, though, as Wallace State took the game 10-2.

 

Gracey Harbour (Batesville; South Panola) earned the start, throwing 3 1/3 innings. She allowed eight runs, four of which were unearned. She scattered five hits and two walks, striking out two. Kraft faced two batters in relief, giving up two home runs. Lizzie Meeks (Ripley; Pine Grove) pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing three hits.

 

Goodman, Eaves and Williams accounted for PRCC's three hits. Goodman stole three bases, increasing her season total to an incredible 22. 

 

NEXT UP
The Wildcats remain at Wildcat Stadium on Saturday, hosting No. 16 North Iowa Area. First pitch is at noon.

 

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.

For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).