WESSON – On a warm and pleasant day in lsteJanuary, the Co-Lin Lady Wolves managed to capture a split againstthe No. 6-ranked Heartland, Ill. Lady Hawks in Juco softball actionto open their season. They won the opener 4-3, but lost thenightcap 10-1.

    “It was great to capture a split to begin the season against a goodteam like Heartland,” said Co-Lin coach Allen Kent. “Heartland is asolid team that can hit the ball from top to bottom. We still havea lot of work to do to get better, but I was pleased to get awin.”

    The Lady Wolves (1-1) will have a week off before returning toaction Wednesday, Feb. 8 as they prepare to host the Holmes LadyBulldogs for a doubleheader. Game time is 2 p.m.

Co-Lin 4, Heartland 3

    The Lady Wolves and Lady Hawks provided softball fans with plentyof excitement in the opening series as the pitchers dueled in adefensive battle in seven innings of action.

    Co-Lin managed to get on the scoreboard first in the third inningas sophomore third baseman Kacey Smith blasted a solo home run for1-0 lead. The Lady Hawks fought back to grab a 3-1 lead in the topof the fifth. The Lady Wolves rallied in the bottom of the fifthand sixth innings to tie the game at 3-all. They made hugedefensive stops to keep Heartland scoreless in the remainder of thegame.

    In the bottom of the seventh inning, Co-Lin outfielder Stevie AnnWright began the inning with a single to spark a rally. JosiePorter hit a fielder’s choice to put Wright in scoring position.Freshman catcher Karla Beth Hux smashed a game-winning single upthe middle to send Wright home and give Co-Lin the win.

    Sophomore pitcher Sarah Anthony (1-0) was the winner in the openinggame. She collected four strikeouts and two walks. Beth Wilsonabsorbed the loss for the Lady Hawks with nine strikeouts, twowalks and one hit batter.

    The Lady Wolves finished with five hits. Smith was the leader atthe plate as she also ripped a single. Porter hit safely.

    “This was a good defensive battle between two good pitchers,”continued Kent. “Our girls made several defensive stops in the gameto keep the game close. The biggest stops were in the sixth when wemanaged a out at second on a pickoff and at home plate to get usout of the inning tied.”

    The Lady Hawks were led by freshman shortstop Lyndsay Stevens witha triple and a single. Hitting safely were Danielle Burge, LindsayWilliams, and Amanda Hainlen.

    “It was great to get out and play some games,” said Heartland coachJohn Bassett. “Co-Lin has a really good program and it is always agreat pleasure to play them. Overall, we made some learningmistakes in this series, but we are going to work hard to fixthem.

    “We are a young team that is loaded with freshmen players and thisis a great test for us to come together as a team as we travel andplay some teams in South to help us get better before returninghome for division action.”

Heartland 10, Co-Lin 1

    The Lady Hawks (2-4) bounced back to capture the second games asthey pounded the Lady Wolves with 11 hits to Co-Lin’s three in fiveinnings of action.

    Freshman Susan Goetze was the winning pitcher for the Lady Hawkswith six strikeouts, three walks and one hit batter.

    Sophomore pitcher Brooke Delaughter suffer the lost for the LadyWolves as she collected one strikeout and allowed two walks in 3.2innings of work. Freshman Chynna Coghlan saw action in relief,collecting no strikeouts and no walks.

    Sophomore Danielle Burge powered the Lady Hawks at the plate withtwo home runs. Christina Beam belted two doubles and a single. KateMayes contributed a triple and a single. Mackenzie Fox provided atwo singles. Audrey Butler ripped a double and Lyndsay Stevenssingled.

    Freshman Bradi Davis was the leader at the plate for the LadyWolves with two singles. Shelby Mitchell hit safely.

    “We struggled to get things going offensively and defensively inthe second games, stated Kent. “Heartland came out and hit the ballwell. They made us pay big as we struggled to hit our spots withour pitching.”