Southwest splits with Gulf Coast

SUMMIT – A wild five-run second inning propelled the Southwest Lady Bears to a 7-2 second-game win and a doubleheader split with the visiting Mississippi Gulf Coast Lady Bulldogs, ranked eighth in the NJCAA. Gulf Coast took a 4-2 win in the opener.

Southwest (8-15, 4-8) trailed 1-0 in the finale before sending nine batters to the plate and going up 5-1 in the second inning. Morgan Brown scored on a Mary Margaret McLaurin base hit. Marissa Jenkins, on base via a walk, reached the plate on a Gulf Coast error. A Harley Myers single allowed McLaurin to score.

Marisa Pruski, on base after a fielder’s choice, also scored on the play. Myers scored the final run of the inning on a two-out Gulf Coast error.

The Lady Bulldogs (20-11, 7-5) picked up their final run in the third when Emily Davis reached base on a fielder’s choice and scored on Brooke Gaston’s line drive double to right field.

The Lady Bears made it 6-2 in the bottom of the fourth when Myers doubled with two outs and raced to the plate on Chelsea Nette’s second hit of the game. The final run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth when McLaurin led off with a solo blast over the left field fence.

Maddy Teague went the distance in the pitching circle to get the win for the Lady Bears. In her seven innings of work, Teague surrendered two runs (one earned) on six hits. He issued two bases on balls. Pruski and Kristen Gekler hit safely for the Lady Bears.

Myers picked up the first of her three hits in the opener with a lead-off single for Southwest. Moving to second on a one-out walk to Gekler, Myers scored on Abi Hall’s line drive single to left. Gekler was also able to score on the play, giving the Lady Bears a 2-0 lead.

Gulf Coast tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth when Mallory Beaty led off with a homer to left and Cat Campbell, on base with a single, scored on Davis’ ground out. The Lady Bulldogs used two base hits and a Southwest error to score the final two runs of the game in the top of the sixth.

Gekler gave up two runs, one earned, in three innings of relief in the circle to take the loss for the Lady Bears. She allowed two hits and walked one batter.

Hall started the game, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits in three innings. She struck out two batters and walked one. Keely Fortenberry also pitched.

Nette had a double and single in the game for the Lady Bears. Harper and McLaurin both had two singles while Jenkins also hit safely.

The Lady Bears return to action Tuesday when they travel to Ellisville to face the Lady Bobcats of Jones County. Game one of the MACJC South Division doubleheader is set for 4 p.m.

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