COLUMBUS, Ga. — The No. 11 Pearl River softball team split the opening day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic, turning in an incredible come-from-behind victory over No. 7 Johnson County, 11-10, and dropping a 5-0 decision to reigning National Champion No. 1 Indian River State.
"I told our pitchers that we were going to do this as a staff. When they got one pitcher's number, we went to the next one," head coach Christie Meeks said. "Our offense just exploded in game one. The offense had the confidence and made the adjustments.
"In game two, we fought really hard. They just produced a couple of runs when we made a few errors. Overall, I thought we played really tough today."
PEARL RIVER 11, JOHNSON COUNTY 10
The day certainly didn't start well for Pearl River (8-4 overall) against Johnson County (3-2). After 2.5 innings in the game, the Wildcats had a sizable 7-1 deficit to try to overcome.
The Wildcats made plenty of progress toward returning to the game in the bottom of the third inning. PRCC's leadoff batter reached base on an error, and Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Central) drove her first collegiate home run over the wall in center field for a pair of runs, 7-3. A single by Maeli Ben (Conehatta; Newton County) and an error by the Cavaliers allowed PRCC to add another and Anna Kate Rounsaville (Gulfport) kept the rally going with an RBI single, 7-5.
Pearl River evened things up in the fourth, taking advantage of a miscue. Caroline Lindsey (Gulfport) sent a ball into right field, resulting in a two-run error and a tie ball game, 7-7. The momentum swing was short-lived for the Wildcats as Johnson County bashed a mistake pitch over the wall for a three-run homer in the top of the fifth, 10-7.
PRCC responded in the bottom half of the inning to remain within striking distance. The Wildcats hit into a double play, but Cailey Pervel (Carriere; Pearl River Central) scored before the play was complete, 10-8.
PRCC's defensive efforts kept the Cavaliers off the scoresheet in the top of the sixth, and the Wildcat offense scored on a JCCC miscue to get within one run, 10-9. Ana-Grace Garcia (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's) worked her way out of trouble in the seventh to send PRCC back to the plate in search of a run.
Pearl River's leadoff batter, Rounsaville, drew a five-pitch walk to open the frame and advanced to second on a passed ball. She was smart on the basepaths to move to third base, tagging up on a shallow fly ball that the right field dove to catch. Needing one more out to close things, JCCC threw a ball that got away from the catcher and allowed Rounsaville to take the plate and tie things up at 10-10, sending the game into extra innings in the process.
PRCC turned an impressive double play in the top of the eighth to erase the runner that was placed at second base. A ball was grounded to Kai Goodman (New Orleans, La.; John Curtis) at third. She fired across the diamond to Ben for the first out, and Ben delivered a perfect throw across the field to nab the runner trying to take third. The next batter grounded out, and PRCC had a chance to walk things off in the bottom of the eighth.
Emmaleigh Theriot (Prairieville, La.; St. Amant) quickly stole third base to get 60 feet closer and scored the winning run when Eaves ripped a single up the middle, 11-10.
PRCC used four pitchers in the contest. Gracey Harbour (Batesville; South Panola) allowed five runs on four hits and a walk in one inning. She struck out three. Goodman recorded one out, allowing one run on one hit and two walks.
Ballard Kraft (Liberty; Amite School Center) was great in relief, making one mistake on a home run. She finished with three innings, four runs, three hits, one walk and three punch outs. Garcia earned the win with 3 2/3 innings of relief. She allowed one hit, one walk and struck out five.
Eaves had an incredible day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. She hit one homer. Ben also had a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
INDIAN RIVER STATE 5, PEARL RIVER 0.
Pearl River played tough throughout its contest against Indian River State, remaining in striking distance the entire time.
The Pioneers scored a run in each of the first two innings to take a 2-0 lead and tacked on three more runs in the fourth, 5-0.
Garcia threw all seven innings, striking out six and walking one. She allowed six hits and five runs. PRCC's defense made two errors.
UP NEXT
Pearl River returns to action tomorrow at 10 a.m. for three games. PRCC will take on No. 13 Danville Area, Tallahassee State and No. 5 Walters State.
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