Coates pitches No. 4 MGCCC to sweep

PERKINSTON — The Emaleigh Coates party keeps rolling on. The freshman right-hander from Lucedale added another win and got her first save in No. 4 Mississippi Gulf Coast's sweep of Meridian.

She struck out seven in a two-hitter to win 8-0 in five innings in Game 1, then shut down a sixth-inning threat in a 6-3 victory in the nightcap.

"It's just getting ahead in the count, usually using spin pitches instead of a fastball," Coates said. "I'm focusing and trusting the defense to play the way they know how to. I've just tried to take advantage of the opportunities they've given me."

Gulf Coast (24-10, 20-4 MACCC) snapped a three-game losing streak. The Bulldogs will end the day no worse than third in the standings.

After struggling early in the season, Coates stay after practice and changed a couple of minor mechanical items working with pitching coach Shelbee Sowders. Mostly though, according to the coaching staff, it was just nose-to-the-grindstone hard work.

She's 3-1 with a save and 0.78 ERA in her last five outings. She's struck out 25 batters in 27 innings, allowing only five walks and three earned runs.

Coates didn't walk anybody in the first game, and finished with nine strikeouts against one walk in seven total innings.

"She gets ahead on hitters, and we hadn't been doing that," Gulf Coast coach Kenneth Long said. "That's a big deal. She's worked overtime to get where she's at. I'm really proud for her."

Breanna Green (Fr., Saraland, Ala./Saraland) hit a two-run homer in the first game, her first. Kristian Jones (Fr., Southaven/DeSoto Central) had a double, a triple and three RBI. Caroline Moore (So., Maryville, Tenn/Maryville) had two RBI.

Coates entered with a runner on base and nobody out in the sixth and escape only allowing one run to maintain a 4-3 lead.

Briana Shores (So., Richland/Richland) doubled in a run, and Aislynn Andrews (Fr., Poplarville/Poplarville) singled in another for more cushion for Coates.

"I thought we played good," Long said. "After the ICC games, we came out hard the first game. The second game we got a little bit comfortable, but overall we played pretty well today."

Gulf Coast plays a huge doubleheader against No. 6 Copiah-Lincoln at Perk on Thursday. First pitch at Ross-Smith Field is set for 2 p.m.

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.