PENSACOLA, Fla. — The No. 11 Pearl River softball team returned to the field for the first time in 10 days Tuesday evening and earned a big road sweep over Pensacola State. PRCC took game one 5-4 and won the nightcap 13-4 in six innings.

"It's always a tough thing to go on the road and get a sweep, especially against a good team like Pensacola State," head coach Christie Meeks said. "We've been practicing on fixing the little things. I believe they felt that in game one and kept that confidence in game two.

GAME ONE
The Wildcats (7-3 overall) found themselves behind in the early going as Pensacola State (6-6) mashed an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning. Pearl River didn't get into the run column until the fourth frame, and the captain started it. In another important situation, Caroline Lindsey (Gulfport) stepped to the plate and ripped a solo home run to square the game up, 1-1.

PRCC took its first lead in the fifth frame as Emmaleigh Theriot (Prairieville, La.; St. Amant) slapped a ball the other way and into left field for an RBI. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the Pirates plated a run of their own in the fifth to keep the game even, 2-2.

Pearl River took a lead that it wouldn't relinquish in the sixth. Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Central) singled and crossed the plate when Lindsey smacked an RBI double. Lindsey scored when Maeli Ben (Conehatta; Newton County) put a ball into play, which resulted in an error, 4-2 PRCC. Ben added another PRCC run in the seventh by getting an RBI single to fall, 5-2.

Pensacola State didn't go away quietly in the seventh, scoring two runs to get within one, 5-4. Pearl River handed the ball to Ballard Kraft (Liberty; Amite School Center) with two outs and the runner in scoring position. The freshman needed six pitches to punch out the Pirate hitter and secure the 5-4 victory.

Harbour tossed 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk. She struck out four batters. Kraft earned the save by punching out the lone batter she faced.

Three Wildcats had multi-hit games. Lindsey finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Her hits were a double and a home run. Anna Kate Rounsaville (Gulfport) was 2-for-4. Ben finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.

GAME TWO
Pearl River was set up for dominance in game two with Ana-Grace Garcia (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's) in the circle and hot bats in the lineup. Two runs crossed the plate in the first inning as Eaves ripped a two-run single to put PRCC on top, 2-0.

Garcia retired the first six batters she faced to begin the night, allowing PRCC to do more damage in the third. With two runners in scoring position, Lindsey got it done again by sending a two-run double into center field, 4-0.

Garcia induced two quick outs to start the third before two singles and a walk had PRCC in hot water. Garcia remained strong and forced a flyout to end the threat. The Wildcats had one of their biggest offensive outputs of the year in the sixth, making it a six-run frame. Back-to-back triples from Carsyn Mott (Collinsville; West Lauderdale) and Kai Goodman (New Orleans, La.; John Curtis) pushed across the first two runs, and Goodman scored on an error for the next. Kirsten Williams (Saucier; West Harrison) earned a pinch-hit opportunity in the frame and made the most of it with an RBI single. Ben continued her great day with an RBI double to cap the scoring in the inning, 10-0.

The Pirates got runs back in the fourth and fifth innings, cutting the deficit down to seven runs at 10-3. Pearl River instantly matched those runs in the top of the sixth. Peyton Hoffmayer (Ocean Springs), Lindsey and Ben loaded the bases with three singles apiece, and Rounsaville cleared the bases with a double, 13-3.

An error helped Pensacola State score one more in the sixth inning, but Garcia eventually closed the door to secure the 13-4 run-rule victory.

Garcia threw all six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks. Two of the runs allowed by Garcia were unearned. The freshman also struck out five Pirates.

Goodman finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Lindsey, Ben and Rounsaville had two hits apiece. Rounsaville had a game-high three RBIs.

NEXT UP
The Wildcats head to the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. on Friday. PRCC takes on Johnson County and Indian River beginning at 3 p.m.

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