POPLARVILLE, Miss. — No. 16 Pearl River softball bounced back on Friday afternoon, responding from a tough stretch with a sweep of East Mississippi.
PRCC took the opener 4-1 and secured the sweep with a 4-0 game two victory.
"I'm very proud of our team and what they accomplished today," head coach Christie Meeks said. "We had a talk yesterday to help get our heads back on straight. I think the have girls realized that every game matters, and we have to keep rolling."
GAME ONE
It took some time for Pearl River (32-13 overall; 16-6 MACCC) to get things going at the plate in the opener, but luckily Lizzie Meeks (Ripley; Pine Grove) weaved herself out of some trouble through four innings to keep East Mississippi (12-24; 8-16) scoreless.
PRCC scored the first two runs of the day in the bottom of the fourth. Cailey Pervel (Carriere; Pearl River Central) led off the inning with a single and scored when Peyton Hoffmayer (Ocean Springs) put a charge into a pitch for a two-run homer, 2-0.
The Wildcats scored runs in each of the fifth and sixth frames. In the fifth, Caroline Lindsey (Gulfport) cashed in with a sacrifice fly. East Mississippi broke the shutout in the top of the sixth, but PRCC promptly matched the run in the bottom half. The Wildcats turned to Kirsten Williams (Saucier; West Harrison) as a pinch-hitter. The freshman bashed a ball over the heart of the plate and sent it flying well over the left field wall, 4-1.
"She's had a great week of practice. She turned around and got it done in the game," Meeks said of Williams. "That was great to see."
It only took six pitches for Meeks to retire the side in the seventh and secure the 4-1 victory.
Maeli Ben (Conehatta; Newton County), Pervel, Williams and Hoffmayer each had a hit. Emmaleigh Theriot (Prairieville, La.; St. Amant) walked three times and stole a base.
Meeks threw a complete game, scattering four hits and two walks. She allowed one unearned run and struck out four Lions.
GAME TWO
Ana-Grace Garcia (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's) was electric in the circle for the Wildcats as they hunted the sweep. The right-handed pitcher tossed a shutout, tying her career-high with 14 strikeouts. She allowed just three hits and didn't walk a batter.
"She was locked in. After the first inning, she talked about how sharp her stuff was," Meeks said. "Her backdoor pitches and rise ball were working well. When she utilizes her changeup, that's tough to face."
Pearl River gave her a lead in the fourth, doing its damage with two outs. Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Central) began the frame with a double before the next two batters were retired. Pervel gave PRCC the advantage by smashing a double down the left field line, 1-0.
Hoffmayer did it again in the fifth inning, smashing her second long ball of the doubleheader. The solo shot extended PRCC's lead to 2-0. With Kai Goodman (New Orleans, La.; John Curtis) and eaves in scoring position, a passed ball brought in Goodman. Eaves then mashed a double to make it a 4-0 game.
The four runs were plenty for the dominant Garcia as PRCC took the contest 4-0 and earned a sweep.
Pervel and Hoffmayer each had two hits in the contest. Lindsey and Pervel each drove in a run. Eaves walked twice.
UP NEXT
Pearl River heads to Jones on Wednesday for a 4/6 p.m. doubleheader. Tickets can be purchased at JCBobcats.com/tickets. The games will be livestreamed at JCBobcats.com/watch.
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).
