Bulldogs lose MACCC opener to No. 4 Jones

ELLISVILLE — Mississippi Gulf Coast could get the bats going against No. 4 Jones, and the Bulldogs got bounced into the losers bracket of the MACCC Tournament after a 2-0 loss on Wednesday. 

Gulf Coast (22-26) will play Northwest Mississippi in an elimination game scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.

Emaleigh Coates (So., Lucedale/George County) pitched well enough to win, allowing two earned runs while scattering seven hits. She struck out seven Bobcats without walking anyone.

"Emaleigh did well and the defense was solid," Gulf Coast coach David Kuhn said. "We just couldn't get our sticks going tonight. (Nia) Luckett threw really well. We had our chance right there at the end, which is all you can ask for."

Gulf Coast didn't get a baserunner until the sixth inning, when Kate Brannan (Fr., Enterprise/Enterprise) walked with two outs. Kristian Jones (So., Southaven/DeSoto Central) followed with a bloop single to center, but the Bulldogs got nothing across.

Breanna Green (So., Saraland, Ala./Saraland) led off the seventh with a walk, and Darcy Novak (So., Hurley/East Central) walked with two outs. But Gulf Coast couldn't get the key hit against Luckett, who struck out five for Jones (40-8).

The recipe to qualify for the Region 23 Tournament remains the same for Gulf Coast. The Bulldogs still need to win twice. They'll get the chance to pick up the first one Friday afternoon, and that recipe is pretty simple, too.

"Get the bats going, baby," said Kuhn.

MACCC Softball Tournament

May 4-7, Ellisville

Wednesday

Game 1: No. 3 Itawamba 6, No. 4 East Central, 5

Game 2: No. 2 Copiah-Lincoln 2, No. 7 Northeast Mississippi 1

Game 3: No. 1 Jones 2, No. 8 Gulf Coast 0

Game 4: No. 4 Pearl River 4, No. 5 Northwest Mississippi 0

Thursday

Game 5: East Central vs. Northeast, 11 a.m. (Elimination game)

Game 6: Gulf Coast vs. Northwest, 1:30 p.m. (Elimination game)

Game 7: Itawamba vs. Copiah-Lincoln, 4 p.m.

Game 8: Jones vs. Pearl River, 6:30 p.m.

Friday

Game 9: Game 8 loser vs. Game 5 winner, 1:30 p.m. (Elimination game)

Game 10: Game 7 loser vs. Game 6 winner, 11 a.m. (Elimination game)

Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 4 p.m.

Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 6:30 p.m. (Elimination game)

Saturday

Game 13: Game 11 loser vs. Game 12 winner, 1 p.m. (Elimination game)

Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 3:30 p.m. (Championship round)

Game 15: Game 14 winner vs. Game 14 loser, 6 p.m. (If necessary)

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.