WESSON – Before a huge crowd Sunday afternoon, the Co-Lin LadyWolves split a softball double header with the defending communitycollege national champ Heartland (Ill.) Lady Hawks.

Co-Lin won the opener 6-0 and dropped the finale 6-1 toHeartland.

The games were delayed 43 minutes due to the late arrival of theofficials.

The Lady Wolves (10-5) entertains Holmes Thursday for adoubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

“We are proud to split with Heartland,” said Co-Lin head softballcoach Allen Kent following the games. “Bethany (Pinkston) threw aone-hitter. We got ahead early and stayed ahead (in the firstgame). We got some key hits.”

“Heartland got ahead early,” added Kent of the second game. “She(Julie Jouglard) was pitching well. She is a great pitcher.”

Co-Lin 6, Heartland 0

Following a scoreless first inning, the Wolves put together severalhits for a 3-0 lead in the second. Terri Hodges and Monea Cameronboth walked. Both players advanced on a passed ball. Lakin Lockhartripped a hard single to score Hodges for the 1-0 lead. Cameron wasdriven home on a ground out by Kayla Coleman to push the lead to2-0. With 2 out, Lockhart stole home plate from third base on apassed ball for the 3-0 lead.

In the third inning, Daniele Wilson walked with one out. HaleySones doubled to advance Wilson to third. Hodges was hit by a pitchand advanced to first to load the bases. Lockhart smashed a doubleto score Walker and Sones for the 5-0 lead.

Co-Lin added one more run in the fifth inning. Wilson was hit by apitch and took first. Sones singled and Wilson was tagged out atsecond. Sones then stole second and third base on passed balls.Monea Cameron ripped a hard single to score Sones for the sixthwin.

Pinkston, a 5-3 right hander from Brusly, La., improved her recordto 10-2. She struck out 10 batters, walked 4 and allowed 1 hit inthe game.

“I always seem to get better during the game,” said Pinkston. “Mycurve ball was working. They weren’t touching it. We had to playwell against them (Heartland). The girls played gooddefense.”

Erika Rutland singled for the Wolves.

Recording the only hit for Heartland was Hailley Haning with asingle. The losing pitcher was Elizabeth Buchanan of Cullman, Ala.Buchanan struck out 1 batter, walked 3, hit 2 batters and allowed 6runs on 8 hits.

Heartland 6, Co-Lin 1

Katie Schikedanz led off with a single and teammate Erin Tjornhomripped a 2-run home run over the left field fence to give the Hawksan early 2-0 lead over the Wolves in the top of the firstinning.

In the bottom of the first, Dee Dee Walker singled and Wilsondoubled to send Walker to third base. Sones’ sacrifice fly scoredWalker to cut the deficit to 2-1.

In the top of the third, Heartland added 3 more runs to push itslead to 5-1. Mackenzie Foiles singled, Bethany Baker doubled andLindsay Crawford singled for bring home 2 more runs with a pair ofCo-Lin errors for the 5-1 lead. Pinkston relieved Hodges (0-3) andwent on to get Co-Lin out of the inning.

In the top of the seventh, Tjornhom was walked and stole secondbase. Lizzie Andrews bunted to first base. Foiles doubled to scoreTjornhom for the sixth and final run.

Hodges, in 2.1 innings, struck out 6 batters, walked 3 and allowed5 runs on 7 hits. Pinkston worked the final 4.2 innings, fanning 8batters, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and walking 1 batter.

Walker added a double for the Wolves. Debra Hamor, Sones and Hodgessingled.

For the Hawks, Andrews added a single. Shayla Hoenes singled.