YOUNGSVILLE, La. — No. 7 Pearl River split its games at the Mardi Gras Invitational on Friday, falling to No. 1 Northwest Florida State College 10-2 before rebounding with a 15-3 win over Angelina College.
"I'm proud of the way our girls responded in game two, for sure," head coach Christie Meeks said. "We came back out, put our heads down, and kept working."
Game One
The Wildcats (3-1 Overall) opened the Mardi Gras Invitational against the top-ranked Northwest Florida State (8-0). Ann Elise Duncan (McComb; Brookhaven Academy) got the start in the circle before Ana-Grace Garcia (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's) entered in the second inning and tossed 3.1 innings of relief, allowing two earned runs while striking out two and issuing no walks.
Pearl River struck first against Northwest Florida State, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Jaycee Holifield(Laurel; Stringer Attendance Center) drew a bases-loaded walk, and Shania Fondren (Batesville; South Panola) followed with a two-out, two-run home run to give the Wildcats an early 2-0 lead.
The Raiders responded quickly, scoring five runs in the top of the second to take control of the game. Northwest Florida State added another run in the third to extend its lead to 6-2.
The score remained unchanged until the fifth inning, when the Raiders plated four more runs to push the advantage to 10-2. Pearl River was unable to answer in the bottom of the inning, and the game ended after five innings due to the run rule.
GAME TWO
Teegan Dewitt (Pass Christian; Hancock) got the starting nod in Game Two for the Wildcats, and the freshman delivered, going all six innings and striking out nine Angelina batters.
Pearl River scored early and often, plating four runs in the first inning. The Wildcats showed patience at the plate, drawing four walks, while Fondren added a double and Taylor Foster (Petal) chipped in a single.
Behind Dewitt and a steady Wildcat defense, Pearl River kept Angelina off the scoreboard and quickly went back to work offensively, adding three more runs in the second inning — all with two outs. Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Central) sparked the rally with a single before Caroline Woodward (Gulfport) worked a walk. Maeli Ben (Conehatta; Newton County) followed with a double to score both runners, and Holifield capped the inning with a triple to bring Ben home and extend the lead to 7-0.
The Wildcats again held Angelina scoreless before tacking on another run in the third inning. Angelina answered in the bottom half of the frame, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 8-3.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Pearl River added to its lead in the fifth. Addy Grace Alexander (Poplarville) drew a walk and advanced to third, then scored on Eaves' one-out single.
Dewitt blanked the Roadrunners again in the fifth, and the Wildcats broke the game open with a six-run inning to take a 15-3 lead. The rally featured 10 batters, seven singles, and a sacrifice fly.
Angelina opened the sixth with a leadoff triple, but Dewitt responded by striking out two batters before inducing a popout to second base to seal the 15-3 victory.
LEADING THE WAY
In Game One, Fondren led the way for the Wildcats, scoring Pearl River's only runs on a towering first-inning home run. She followed that performance by going 2-for-4 in Game Two, recording a double, a single and a game-high four RBIs.
Ben also had a strong day at the plate, going 3-for-4 against Angelina in Game Two and driving in two runs.
Meeks said Fondren and Ben are "just hitters, and what do they say, hitters hit. No matter what kind of pitching they face, they're going to hit, and I think that's what Coach K teaches them."
In the circle for the Wildcats in Game Two, freshman Dewitt struck out eight Roadrunners over six innings.
"I'm proud of her and her first appearance out. Just coming through and doing what she does," Meeks said. "It's amazing to have a full pitching staff."
NEXT UP
Pearl River heads to Panama City Friday to take on Coastal Alabama-South at 2:30 p.m. and Andrew College at 5 p.m.
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