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Lady Wolves Upset Top Seeded Vikings with Incredible Comeback

Lady Wolves Upset Top Seeded Vikings with Incredible Comeback

OXFORD, Ala. – The Co-Lin Softball team continued play in the NJCAA DII National Tournament with a game against the top seed, St. Johns River State, on Thursday, May 22. The No. 5 seeded, and No. 3 ranked Lady Wolves scored nine unanswered runs in a come-from-behind win over the No. 1 seeded and ranked Vikings, 9-8.

The Vikings used a huge bottom of the first to score all eight of their runs taking advantage of an early Lady Wolves error while the scoring was capped off by a three-run home run making the lead, 8-0.

After a scoreless second inning, the Lady Wolves began their comeback with a five-run top of the third as Carson Hughey (Brookhaven) and Brelie Phillips (Conehatta) hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. Olivia Banes (Pelahatchie) then reached on an error while Hughey and Phillips both scored on the play. Banes then scored as Taylor Efferson (Holden, LA) struck out but reached base safely on a wild pitch making the score, 8-3. Avery Williams (Olive Branch) then drew a walk while Kynlee Madere (Paulina, LA) singled to load the bases with no outs. Avery Williams and Madere then scored on a two-RBI single by Emeri Warren (Sebastopol), making the score, 8-5.

After a scoreless bottom of the third, the Lady Wolves scored two runs in the top of the fourth as Phillips hit a one-out double to get the offense going. Banes then stepped up to the plate, took one swing of the bat, and smashed a 2-2 pitch over the left field fence for a two-run home run, her team-lead tying 11th of the season, cut the lead down to 8-7.

The Lady Wolves then held the Vikings scoreless in the bottom of the fourth while both teams did not score in the fifth. The Lady Wolves then took the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth as Phillips hit a one-out single to get the offense going. Later in the inning, Efferson stepped up to the plate, and launched a 1-0 pitch over the fence in left field for a two-run home run, her tenth of the season, giving the Lady Wolves a 9-8 lead.

The Vikings then hit back-to-back singles to start the inning as the Lady Wolves made their second pitching change of the game bringing Efferson in to maintain their lead. Efferson got out of the jam with a lineout double play to second base as Emilie Williams (Summit) snagged the ball and caught the lead runner at second from the first batter she faced and then got a lineout to end the inning.

After a scoreless top of the seventh, the Lady Wolves then retired the Vikings in order including a game-ending, comeback-sealing strikeout to get the 9-8 victory.

The Lady Wolves totaled 11 hits as Brelie Phillips and Emeri Warren led the way with three hits apiece while Olivia Banes, Taylor Efferson, Kynlee Madere, Morgan Chisolm (Madison), and Carson Hughey had one hit each. Banes, Efferson, and Warren had two RBIs each for the Lady Wolves.

Emily Richarde (Lakeland, TN) got the start and earned a no-decision pitching 0.2 innings and allowing eight runs, seven earned, on six hits with one walk. Keegan McCorkle (Tyronza, AR) improved to 6-2 overall with one of her best outings of her career in relief pitching 4.1 scoreless innings allowing nine hits with one strikeout. Taylor Efferson got her third save of the season with two innings of scoreless and hitless relief with one strikeout.

Co-Lin improves to 46-5 overall and will face off against MACCC foe, Jones, in the semifinals on Friday, May 23. First pitch between the No. 5 seeded Lady Wolves and No. 3 seeded Bobcats is set for 2 p.m., at Choccolocco Park.