MERIDIAN — Pearl River’s Lady Wildcats split with Meridian CC in MACJC South Division softball action here Friday, falling 8-4 in the first game for their first division loss of the year before rebounding with an 8-5 victory in the nightcap game.
The River is now 16-6 overall and 5-1 in division play, while the host Lady Eagles are 5-11 and 2-2.
PRCC went up 1-0 in the top of the first when lead off batter Breanna Herndon of Poplarville High reached on an error, moved to second on another error, and scored off a sacrifice by Branda Northrop of Poplarville High before padding its lead to 2-zip in the top of the fourth when Katie Davis of D’Iberville High smashed a one-out solo homer out of left center. Jazmin Thomas of Lawrence County High and Danielle Barton of Harrison Central High followed with base hits, but were left stranded when MCC starter Shelby Perry retired Mary Grace Key and Herndon for the final outs.
Meridian opened the offensive floodgates in the bottom of the frame with a seven-run barrage. The Lady Eagles benefitted from a double by Montana Holyfield on her second trip to the plate in the inning, six base on balls, and two batters reaching on errors.
Pearl River answered with a solo run in the top of the fifth when Hannah Holloway of Petal reached on an error and scored an out later off a single by Rachel Hickman of Poplarville High to make it 7-3. MCC scored a solo run in the sixth off a hit batter and two base hits, while the Lady Wildcats scored the game’s final run in the seventh when Northrop cracked a one-out single, Shay Rosser of D’Iberville High followed suit with a base hit an out later, and Davis drew a walk.
Perry got the win in her four innings of work, giving up five hits and walking one, while Angel Thornton relieved in the fifth to close it out. She gave up five hits, struck out one, and walked one.
River starter Skylar Cook (7-2) of St. Amant (La.) High got the loss in her three-and-two-thirds innings of work, giving up three this, striking out five, and walking six, while Hickman took over the mound in the fourth, going two-and-a-third, giving up two hits, striking out one, walking one, and hitting a batter.
Northrop and Barton paced PRCC’s 10-hit attack with two singles each, while Davis homered (one RBI) and Herndon, Hickman (one RBI), Holloway, Rosser, and Thomas all had base hits.
Meridian finished with five this, led by Holyfield’s double and single (three RBIs), while Megan McCullough had two base hits (one RBI), and Keoceania Yarbrough doubled (one RBI).
Pearl River committed three errors in the game to Meridian’s two.
The Lady Wildcats avenged the loss in the nightcap game, going up 3-0 in the top of the first. Herndon led off with a walk, Northrop was belted by a pitch, and Brooke Roberts of St. Amant (La.) High walked an out later to load the bases. Barton was then hit by a pitch, Davis walked, and Briana Leonard of John Curtis Christian (La.) High walked. The Lady Eagles answered with a solo run in the bottom of the inning.
Meridian went up 4-3 in the bottom of the second off an error, two base hits and two walks, while The River tied it up in the top of the third when Roberts led off with a double to right field and scored two outs later off Leonard’s double.
PRCC added two more runs in the top of the sixth when Mary Grace Key led off with a double to center field and moved to second and eventually scoring off wild pitches. Northrop reached on an error and scored on three wild pitches before Holloway and Roberts were retired for the final outs. MCC scored a solo run in the bottom of the inning off a one-out solo homer by Paige Gipson, while the Lady Wildcats added the game’s final run in the seventh when Davis drew a one-out walk and scored off Leonard’s double to left.
Starter Barton (3-1) got the win in her six innings of action, giving up six hits, striking out seven, and walking six, while Cook closed it out in the seventh, striking out two.
Thornton (NA) got the loss after relieving in the sixth, giving up a hit, striking out two, and walking one, while Zoie KaVergebe started and wend five-and-a-third, giving up six hits, striking out one, walking four, and hitting two batters with pitches.
PRCC committed two errors in the game to MCC’s three. Leonard (three RBIs) and Roberts paced The River’s seven-hit effort with two doubles each, while Key doubled and Barton (one RBI) and Northrop (one RBI) both had base hits.
Meridian finished with six hits, led by Gipson’s home run and single (one RBI), while Holyfield, McCullough, Shelby Peavey, and Yarbrough (one RBI) all had base hits. Pearl River resumes action Sunday when it hosts MACJC South Division rival Mississippi Gulf Coast in a 1 p.m. doubleheader in Lady Wildcat Stadium which was originally scheduled for Monday but was moved back a day due to a forecast of rain. The Lady Wildcats travel to No. 1-ranked and division foe Jones County in Ellisville Wednesday for a 4 p.m. twin bill.
PEARL RIVER @ MERIDIAN
MACJC South Division Doubleheader
Played Friday, March 6, 2015 @ Meridian, MS
GAME ONE
Pearl River (15-6, 4-1) 100 110 1 — 4 10 3
Meridian (5-10, 2-1) 000 701 X — 8 5 2
WP: Shelby Perry (NA), starter, 4 innings, 5 hits, 1 BB.
Also Pitching: Angel Thornton (5), 3 innings, 5 hits, 1K, 1 BB.
Catcher: Cheyenne Barefoot.
LP: Skylar Cook (7-2), starter, 3.2 innings, 3 hits, 5 K, 6 BB.
Also Pitching: Rachel Hickman (4), 2.1 innings, 2 hits, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP.
Catcher: Brooke Roberts.
HITTERS
Pearl River: Branda Northrop 2-1B, Katie Davis HR (RBI), Danielle Barton 2-1B, Breanna Herndon 1B, Rachel Hickman 1B (RBI), Hannah Holloway 1B, Shay Rosser 1B, Jazmin Thomas 1B.
Meridian: Montana Holyfield 2B, 1B (3 RBI); Megan McCullough 2-1B (RBI), Keoceania Yarbrough 2B (RBI).
GAME TWO
Pearl River (16-6, 5-1) 301 012 1 — 8 7 2
Meridian (5-11, 2-2) 130 001 0 — 5 6 3
WP: Danielle Barton (3-1), starter, 6 innings, 6 hits, 7 K, 6 BB.
Also Pitching: Skylar Cook (7), 2 K. Catcher: Briana Leonard. LP: Angel Thornton (NA), relieved in 6th, 1 hit, 2 K, 1 BB.
Also Pitching: Zoie KaVergbe, starter, 5.1 innings, 6 hits, 1 K, 4 BB, 2 HBP.
Catcher: Cheyenne Barefoot.
HITTERS
Pearl River: Briana Leonard 2-2B (3 RBI), Brooke Roberts 2-2B, Mary Grace Key 2B, Danielle Barton 1B (RBI), Branda Northrop 1B (RBI).
Meridian: Paige Gipson HR, 1B (RBI); Montana Holyfield 1B, Megan McCullough 1B, Shelby Peavey 1B, Keoceania Yarbrough 1B (RBI).
UP NEXT: Pearl River resumes action Sunday when it hosts MACJC South Division rival Mississippi Gulf Coast in a 1 p.m. doubleheader in Lady Wildcat Stadium before traveling to No. 1-ranked and division foe Jones County in Ellisville Wednesday for a 4 p.m. bill.