Bulldogs split with No. 4 NWCC, clinch playoff spot
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 0 |
|
Northwest Mississippi Community College | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | X | 10 | 10 | 2 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
|
Northwest Mississippi Community College | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
Mississippi Gulf Coast clinched a spot in the softball playoffs Thursday with a hard-fought split against No. 4 Northwest Mississippi in Senatobia.
The Bulldogs bounced back from a 10-9 loss in the opener to hand the Rangers just their fourth loss of the season in the second game, winning 5-4.
Gulf Coast has won 10 of its last 12 and held on to fifth place in the MACCC.
"We came out and played really good today," Bulldogs coach David Kuhn said. "I feel like we're getting better every time out. Our kids don't quit and don't get down. They're very resilient, even-keeled. Hopefully, we can continue to get better and better."
In Game 2, Jett Harrell (Fr., Clarksdale/Lee Academy) had a bases-loaded double in the second inning to put Gulf Coast ahead, then pitched a three-up, three-down seventh inning for a save.
Kylie Burnette (Fr., Picayune/Picayune) pitched 5.2 innings and allowed just one earned run. She left with the go-ahead run at second in the sixth, and Kennedy Brown (So., Southaven/Northpoint Christian) got a fly ball to end the threat.
"Kylie mixed it up and kept them off balance," Kuhn said. "She did a good job of pitching to contact, and the defense made plays."
Brown earned the win when Jorja Roberson (Fr., Branyan/East Union) drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh.
Breanna Green (So., Saraland Ala./Saraland) had two hits, and Laurel Ladner (So., Long Beach/Long Beach) doubled in a run in the third for a 4-1 lead.
Gulf Coast couldn't make an 8-4 lead in the fifth inning of the opener stand up. K.K. Agner (So., Horn Lake/Magnolia Heights) had her 12th home run of the year in the first, and a two-run double in the third inning for a 4-2 lead. Ladner had preceded her with an RBI double of her own.
Abby Vance (So., Calhoun City/Calhoun City) had a sacrifice fly in the fourth for a 5-4 lead, and Kamryn LaFosse (Fr., Lake Charles, La./Sam Houston) doubled in a run in the fifth. Ladner drove in two more runs with a single for that four-run cushion.
Northwest scored five times in the sixth to retake the lead and held on after Harrell singled in a run in the seventh.
Northwest is now 30-4, 19-3. The Rangers dropped out of a first-place tie with Jones, which swept Mississippi Delta on Thursday.
Gulf Coast will close its regular season out next week with a pair of home doubleheaders. The Bulldogs will entertain Meridian on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 3 p.m.
For more information on MGCCC's 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.
