RAYMOND, Miss. — The No. 15 Pearl River softball team went on the road and secured its third consecutive MACCC sweep Tuesday evening, defeating Hinds 5-0 and 9-1.
"It's always hard to go anywhere in our conference and get a sweep, so I am super proud of these girls for getting on the bus ready to play and handling business," head coach Christie Meeks said. "We were really good about being patient and passing the bat today. We took advantage of what was given to us and attacked when needed."
GAME ONE
The Wildcats (24-9 overall; 8-2 MACCC) handed the ball to Lizzie Meeks (Ripley; Pine Grove) to start the day, and the freshman right-hander was locked in from the start as she retired the first 12 batters that she faced in order.
Pearl River gave her runs to work with in the second and fifth innings. In the second, Cailey Pervel (Carriere; Pearl River Central) smacked a double into left field to bring up the Wildcat cleanup hitter, Caroline Lindsey (Gulfport). Lindsey took the first pitch for a ball, then sent the next one flying over the wall for a two-run homer. It was her team-leading ninth of the year. Hinds (11-14; 4-6) retired the next two batters, but PRCC put up a two-out rally. A pitch plunked Caitlyn Riche (Walker, La.) and Carsyn Mott (Collinsville; West Lauderdale) brought her around the bases with a double deep into the gap, 3-0.
PRCC's fifth-inning runs came via the long ball, and Pervel got it done, belting a two-run shot over the wall in straightaway center field, 5-0.
The Eagles broke up Meeks' perfect game in the fifth inning but couldn't get any runs across. They made more noise in the sixth, loading up the bases with two outs, but Meeks fired five pitches to get a punchout and close the frame. She struck out two in the seventh to help close the door and secure the victory.
Eaves, Pervel and Lindsey each had two hits in the contest. Pervel and Lindsey both had two-run homers.
Meeks finished with seven shutout innings pitched, scattering four hits and striking out eight Eagles.
"She was fantastic. She has been so locked in," head coach Christie Meeks said. "Whether she's pitching or keeping charts in the dugout. I'm proud of what she's doing right now."
GAME TWO
The Pearl River offense fired on all cylinders in game two, scoring in all six innings that it played. A leadoff Kai Goodman (New Orleans, La.; John Curtis) double helped PRCC earn its first run as Pervel drove a sacrifice fly into left field. An inning later, Goodman picked up an RBI with a single. Before the frame ended, an Eagle error and heads-up baserunning by the Wildcats allowed two additional runs to score, 4-0.
Maeli Ben (Conehatta; Newton County) earned an RBI an inning later, driving home Pervel, who reached base on a double, 5-0. PRCC scored a pair in the fourth. Goodman and Emmaleigh Theriot (Prairieville, La.; St. Amant) were on the corners, and Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Centr2al) hit a sacrifice fly to score Goodman. A batter later, Pervel ripped a single to bring Theriot across the dish, 7-0.
The Eagles scored their first and only run of the day in the bottom half of the frame, turning a leadoff single into a run, 7-1. Starting Pitcher Ana-Grace Garcia (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's) settled down after the run, inducing a flyout and strikeout to close the frame.
The Wildcats were extremely patient in the fifth to pick up their next run. Gracey Harbour (Batesville; South Panola), Riche and Mott each drew a walk before Theriot drew a six-pitch walk to plate a run. A two-out Ben double and Riche single gave PRCC its final run of the afternoon as it successfully put the game into run-rule territory.
The leadoff Eagle batter in the sixth hit a triple and looked to put an end to PRCC's run-rule dreams. Garcia earned a quick strikeout before Goodman cut down the runner from third at home on a ground ball. The final Eagle batter of the night put a good swing on a pitch but sent it to the Wildcat center fielder to close out the game, 9-1 in six.
Goodman went 3-for-4 at the top of the lineup with an RBI and three runs scored. Pervel was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run. Ben was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Riche and Mott both drew a pair of walks.
Garcia allowed one run on three hits and a walk in six innings of work. She registered 10 strikeouts.
"I thought she did a great job of messing with timing to keep them off-balance," Meeks said. "She wasn't bothered by a lot of things."
NEXT UP
The Wildcats head to Mississippi Delta on Saturday for a 1/3 p.m. doubleheader against the Trojans.
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