Patience and speed were the recipe for success Wednesday afternoon in Pearl River softball's season opener against Bishop State. The Wildcats used 16 walks and 13 stolen bases to secure a sweep, winning the games 11-2 and 10-1 in five innings each.
"We were really aggressive today — a little too aggressive at times," head coach Christie Meeks said. "That's something we can continue to work on and learn from. I'm so proud of our team — especially our pitching staff. These girls all care for each other and root for each other so much."
GAME ONE
Pearl River's (2-0 overall) Ann Elise Duncan (McComb; Brookhaven Academy) walked the first batter she faced in her collegiate debut against Bishop State (0-2) before settling in by sandwiching a flyout between a pair of strikeouts to close the opening frame. The Wildcats immediately backed their rookie with a four-run bottom of the first. Kai Goodman (New Orleans, La.; John Curtis) walked and scored on an error before Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Central) singled and came around on a wild pitch. Jaycee Holifield (Laurel; Stringer) punctuated the inning by unloading on a 1-0 pitch and sending it well beyond the left-field wall for the first home run of her collegiate career — and PRCC's first of the season.
"Jaycee is going to be a special player for us," Meeks said. "She's going to play a good second base and be a threat at the plate."
Bishop State scratched across a run in the third, but Pearl River answered with three of its own in the bottom half. Anastasia Acree (Mobile, Ala.; Alma Bryant) drove in the first with a single before Emmaleigh Theriot (Prairieville, La.; St. Amant) drew a bases-loaded walk. Taylor Foster (Petal) capped the inning with a line-drive RBI single to push the lead to 7-1.
Duncan scattered two singles in the fourth and struck out the side, igniting another Wildcat rally. Pearl River plated four more runs in the bottom of the inning as Acree delivered a two-RBI single, Caroline Woodward (Gulfport) scored on a passed ball and Foster added an RBI single to extend the advantage to 11-1.
Bishop State homered in the fifth, but the Wildcats sealed the run-rule victory with an 11-2 win.
Duncan earned her first collegiate victory after tossing five innings of two-run softball. She allowed six hits and two walks while striking out nine.
"Sometimes the adrenaline of freshman is so high in game on," Meeks said. "That's something we've worked on throughout the year. She had a good day."
Acree, Holifield and Foster each recorded two-hit games. Acree drove in three runs, while Holifield and Foster added two apiece.
GAME TWO
All-MACCC performer Ana-Grace Garcia (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's) picked up where she left off as a freshman, striking out the side in the top of the first inning. Much like the opener, Pearl River struck early, scoring twice in the bottom of the first. Eaves and Goodman executed a double steal, with Goodman swiping home as Eaves broke for second. The Wildcats later loaded the bases, and Zion Seals (Shannon; Nettleton) drew a walk to make it 2-0.
Bishop State turned a leadoff walk into a run in the second on an RBI groundout, but Garcia quickly settled in. She faced just seven batters over the next two innings, striking out three.
Pearl River added crucial insurance in the fourth. Addy Grace Alexander (Poplarville) singled and eventually scored on an Eaves sacrifice fly before Shania Fondren (Batesville; South Panola) went the other way for a towering two-run home run, extending the lead to 6-1.
Garcia erased a leadoff single in the fifth with three quick groundouts before the Wildcats ended the contest in the bottom half. With Alexander aboard, Goodman — typically a slap hitter — sat back and crushed a two-run homer onto the deck beyond the right-field wall. After Eaves reached on an error, Holifield closed the scoring by launching her second home run of the day to secure the 10-1 run-rule win.
Garcia went the distance, allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out seven.
Goodman, Maeli Ben (Conehatta; Newton County) and Alexander each collected two hits. Fondren drove in three runs, while Goodman and Holifield had two apiece. Seals drew three walks and added an RBI.
The Wildcats were aggressive on the bases, as Goodman swiped three bags, Holifield stole two, Eaves added a pair and Alexander chipped in one.
NEXT UP
Pearl River will head to the Mardis Gras Invitational in Youngsville, La. on Friday.
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