Lady ‘Cats sweep pair
Published 7:00 am Tuesday, March 11, 2014
POPLARVILLE — Pearl River Community College’s softball team remained perfect in South Division play Saturday by sweeping visiting Hinds CC.
The Lady Wildcats won the first game of the doubleheader 8-0 (five innings) before pulling out a 4-3 victory in the nightcap game.
PRCC improved to 10-6 overall and 4-0 in division play, while HCC fell to 6-12 and 2-2.
In the first game, starting pitcher Rachel Hickman of Poplarville hurled a no-hitter en route to picking up the mound win. After a scoreless first inning, The River scored two runs in the bottom of the second, third, fourth, and fifth frames.
Hickman (5-1) struck out eight Hinds batters and walked three.
Starter Brandie Freeman (3-5) got the loss in her three innings on the mound, giving up six hits and walking a batter, while Cerah Byrd relieved in the third, giving up six hits and walking a batter.
Hannah Holloway of Petal High paced the Lady Wildcats’ 12-hit attack with a double and two singles (three RBIs), while Hickman smacked two doubles (one RBI). Allie Flynt of Madison Central High (two RBIs), Heather Boutwell of Oak Grove High, and Megan Scronce of Petal High (one RBI) all doubled and singled, while Courtney Warr of Theodore (Ala.) High had a base hit.
Both teams played error free.
In the nightcap game, PRCC scored three in the bottom of the first before adding a solo run in the third and two in the fifth for the game’s final runs.
Starter Ashley Hawkins of Theodore (Ala.) High (2-2) got the win in her four-and-two-thirds innings on the mound, giving up three hits, striking out one and walking one, while Shelby Perry of Sumrall High relieved in the fifth, walking three.
Hickman also returned to the mound in the fifth, going two-and-a-third innings, giving up a hit and striking out one.
Caitlin Dickerson (3-4) got the loss in going the distance, giving up seven hits, striking out six and walking three.
Courtenay Holt led Hinds’ four-hit effort with a home run (one RBI), while Haley Irvan, Stacie Johnson, and Monica Wade all had base hits. Alexis Patterson had an RBI for the Lady Eagles.
Emily Jackson of Theodore (Ala.) High (two RBIs) and Scronce both doubled and singled to pace PRCC’s seven-hit attack, while Boutwell doubled and Flynt and Kelsea Lewis of Oak Grove High (one RBI) both had base hits.
Hinds committed one error in the contest to Pearl River’s none.
Pearl River and Hinds eye a doubleheader rematch Wednesday, April 2 in Raymond.
PRCC faced Meridian Sunday, and will be back in action today traveling to division rival Mississippi Gulf Coast in Perkinston for a 3 p.m. twin bill.