POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 16 Pearl River softball team found two different ways to win Monday evening against No. 20 Kankakee. The Wildcats no-hit the Cavaliers in a 3-0 opening victory and blasted them 9-1 in five innings in the nightcap.
"It was great for us to finally put it all together," head coach Christie Meeks said. "In the past, we've pushed hard on the defensive side and not offensively. Tonight was the first time we got it done on the same night. I was really happy to see their effort tonight on both ends."
GAME ONE
Ballard Kraft (Liberty; Amite School Center) put on a show for the Wildcats (14-7 overall) in the opener. In just the third start of her collegiate career, Kraft racked up 15 strikeouts and no-hit Kankakee (1-1). Although Kraft walked seven batters, the right-hander masterfully worked herself out of trouble throughout the appearance. She becomes just the third Wildcat in program history to strike out 15 batters in a game, joining Brinson Anne Rogers and Lainee Bailey.
"I was nervous going into the game because it was my first start on our home field," Kraft said. "I settled in. My riseball worked really well, and my curveball was nasty. It kept them off balance. I just really felt it tonight."
"This is what we've been waiting on from Bam (Ballard)," Meeks said of Kraft's performance. "We made some adjustments early last week on what we wanted from this pitching staff. She's locked in and trusted that."
The Wildcat offense finally rewarded Kraft's dominant effort in the fourth frame. Caroline Lindsey (Gulfport) stepped to the dish and got the barrel out early on a pitch. The ball sailed down the left field line and stayed fair for a solo home run, 1-0.
"She's such a great leader," Meeks said. "It's so hard to take her off the field because she's such a great player and teammate. She's exactly who you want in a player."
Two more Wildcat runs aided Kraft's cause in the fifth. Carsyn Mott (Collinsville; West Lauderdale) scored on a groundout by Kai Goodman (New Orleans, La.; John Curtis), 2-0. Emmaleigh Theriot (Prairieville, La.; St. Amant) grabbed the next Wildcat run, singling and eventually scoring on a wild pitch, 3-0.
The three runs of support were all Kraft needed as the freshman finished off her no-hitter, and the Wildcats took the game 3-0.
Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Central) was the lone Wildcat with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3. Kraft's final line was seven innings pitched, zero hits, zero runs, seven walks and 15 strikeouts.
GAME TWO
Although the Cavaliers took control early in game two with a first-inning RBI single, Pearl River exploded in the bottom of the second inning to grab firm control. Maeli Ben (Conehatta; Newton County) and Cailey Pervel (Carriere; Pearl River Central) knocked back-to-back doubles to even things up at one apiece to bring up Mott. She took the first pitch thrown to her to get her timing down before unloading on the second pitch and sending it flying over the left field wall for a two-run home run, 3-1. PRCC kept pushing in the frame, and Goodman turned a walk into a run shortly after, scoring on a wild pitch. The captain got it done again for the Wildcats a few at-bats later. PRCC had a pair of runners in scoring position, and Lindsey stepped to the dish. Deep in a 2-2 count, Lindsey stung a pitch on the outer part of the plate, sending it zinging over the wall in right field for a three-run home run, 7-1.
The Wildcats put the game into run-rule territory in the bottom of the fourth. Singles by Theriot and Eaves and a walk to Lindsey loaded up the bases to open the frame. Anna Kate Rounsaville (Gulfport) ripped a ground ball the opposite way for an RBI groundout, and Ben followed with an RBI groundout of her own, 9-1.
Gracey Harbour (Batesville; South Panola) worked around a two-out double in the fifth inning to close things out, securing the sweep with a 9-1 victory.
Four Wildcats finished with two-hit games, including Theriot, Eaves, Ben and Pervel. Lindsey led the RBI effort with three.
Harbour threw five innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks. She struck out six batters.
HONORING THE MACCC CHAMPIONS
Before the game, Pearl River softball recognized the MACCC Champion Pearl River women's basketball team. Sophomore guard Mikayla Riley (Tupelo) threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
NEXT UP
Pearl River opens conference play Saturday at 1/3 p.m. against Southwest.
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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