Hickman shines as PRCC rolls
Published 7:00 am Thursday, March 13, 2014
ROUND TRIPPER: Pearl River’s Rachel Hickman rounds third and heads for home after belting a solo homer in the second game of an MACJC South Division doubleheader against Meridian played Sunday in Poplarville. Hickman prepped at Poplarville High School.
Mitch Deaver | PRCC
POPLARVILLE — It hasn’t taken long for former Poplarville High standout Rachel Hickman to make her mark on the next level.
Hickman hurled a one-hit shutout in the opener of a doubleheader against Meridian Sunday afternoon, and then smacked a home run in the nightcap as Pearl River Community College swept 8-0 and 9-1 wins in MACJC South Division play.
MCC dropped to 0-12 overall and 0-4 in division play, while PRCC improved to 12-6 and remained a perfect 6-0 in league play.
In the first game, Pearl River went up 1-0 in the bottom of the opening inning, while things went scoreless for the next two-and-a-half frames before the Lady Wildcats scored three in the fourth. PRCC added a solo run in the fifth and ended the game via the eight-run rule with four in the sixth.
Hickman (7-2) went the distance, giving up a hit, striking out three, and walking one, while Meridian starter Kelsey Rogers (0-4) went five innings, giving up 10 hits, striking out one, and walking one.
Heather Boutwell of Oak Grove High (one RBI), Hickman (one RBI), Kelsea Lewis of Oak Grove High, and Hannah Holloway of Petal High (three RBIs) paced the Lady Wildcats’ 12-hit attack with a double and a single apiece. Kaci Lantrip of Terry High doubled (one RBI), while Allie Flynt of Madison Central High, Becky Mitchell of Pearl River Central High, and Megan Scronce of Petal High all had base hits.
In the second game, the Lady Wildcats scored four in the bottom of the second and four more in the third before the Lady Eagles managed their only run in the top of the fourth. PRCC’s solo run in the fifth ended the game via the eight-run rule.
Starter Courtney Warr of Theodore (Ala.) High (2-0) got the win in going the distance, giving up four hits, striking out two and walking one.
Boutwell paced The River’s 12-hit attack with three singles (four RBIs), while Flynt and Holloway (two RBIs) both doubled and singled, Hickman homered (one RBI) and Emily Jackson of Theodore (Ala.) High doubled.
Pearl River and Meridian eye a division rematch Saturday, April 5 in Meridian (1 p.m. doubleheader).
PRCC returned to action Wednesday when MACJC South Division rival Mississippi Gulf Coast played host for a 3 p.m. doubleheader in Perkinston before MACJC non-division foe Holmes visits Lady Wildcat Stadium Monday, March 17 for a 3 p.m. twin bill.
