WESSON — Co-Lin’s softball pitching staff is growing up, justin time for the South Division race. Freshmen Kayla Crochet andMeleah Brown both authored 2-hit shutouts Tuesday, directing theLady Wolves to 8-0 and 4-0 wins over South Division rival PearlRiver Community College.

Co-Lin (18-6, 2-0) resumes play Saturday, hosting Jones CountyJunior College for a South Division twinbill. The first game beginsat 1 p.m.

Coach Allen Kent of Co-Lin said he was pleased with his twopitchers, especially against a power-hitting team like Pearl River(10-16, 0-4). “It was a fantastic day for both pitchers. We shutPearl River down. They have hit a lot of home runs.

“Both Kayla and Meleah were on the top of their game,” Kentpointed out. “Lauren (Smith) worked them well behind theplate.”

Co-Lin 4, Pearl River 0

Brown, a freshman from Bogue Chitto, won the nightcap, strikingout 8 batters and walking none. She worked her way out of abases-loaded jam in the 6th, getting 2 batters on infieldpopups.

Asked about the PRCC scoring threat, Brown said, “I just used mysame pitches to get out of it. My curve-drop and riseball wereworking.”

Smith, Co-Lin’s sophomore catcher, said the Wolves are startingto show some potential, similar to last year’s team that wonstate/regional tournament titles and advanced to the NJCAA DivisionII World Series where they finished third.

“We are a strong team,” said Smith, a West Lincoln product. “Wehave to stay strong with our pitching. We have good defense andhitting.”

Pearl River pitcher Jessica Dubuisson and Brown were locked in ascoreless duel until the bottom of the fourth. Co-Lin’s AshleySykes beat out a dribbler past first base and Kady King followedwith a single over the first base bag. Smith reached on a fieldingerror and Sykes scored for 1-0 lead.

In the fifth, blooper singles by Erin Douglass and Brown droppedin. Crochet drove a hard single up the middle and 2 runners scored,making it 3-0.

In the sixth, pinch-hitter Emily Langley lashed anopposite-field triple to the left-center field fence. She scored ona throwing error to third base and Co-Lin led 4-0.

Co-Lin 8, Pearl River 0

A 2-out, 7-run, fifth-inning rally broke open the first game.Sykes delivered a 3-RBI single and finished with 2 hits.

Co-Lin centerfielder Candace Braxton collected a single and 2RBIs. First baseman Allyson Wallace singled.

Crochet, a 5-foot-5 right-hander from Baton Rouge, struck out 4batters and walked none.

Dubuisson was the losing pitcher in both games