Pearl River Community College’s quest for a spot in the juco national championship softball tournament came up just short on Saturday.

The upstart Lady ‘Cats fell to nationally-ranked Gulf Coast in the Region 23 title game 4-0.

The loss ends PRCC’s season at 24-31, while Gulf Coast, ranked second in the nation, moves into the national tournament with a sparkling 41-2 mark.

Danielle Ryan picked up the win, allowing just three hits to PRCC including a double by Jessica Dubuisson.

Dubuisson (20-19) also took the pitching loss, allowing eight hits.

PRCC’s Krystal Penton of Picayune smashed six home runs (including one grand slam) over the course of the tournament and accounted for 18 RBI’s in six games.

PRCC earned a spot in the title round with a Pearl River 9-2 win over Hinds in an elimination game Saturday morning.

Dubuisson picked up the win, getting support at the plate from Penton who cracked a two run homer and added a double and a single. Picayune’s Courtney Dickens added a homer and a double and drove in two wins as well.

On Friday, Gulf Coast sent PRCC to the losers bracket with an 8-3 loss in the first game of the day before PRCC bounced back to beat Northwest Mississippi 4-0 thanks to a homer by Poplarville’s Bridgett Hannaford.