Bulldogs bow out after memorable R23 run

ELLISVILLE — Mississippi Gulf Coast saw a memorable NJCAA Region 23 Tournament and 2023 softball season come to a close late Saturday night. The Bulldogs lost 12-3 to No. 15 LSU Eunice in an elimination game.

They leave the tournament having won three times in dramatic walk-off fashion, and even in a lopsided loss, showed their mettle by battling to the final outs.

"They never quit," Gulf Coast coach David Kuhn said. "It's nice they didn't hang their head. They didn't pout when things got rough. They kept pressing on and working hard. They were always chipping away."

Gulf Coast finished the season 39-20, persevering through a wacky region tournament that saw games delayed by rain, lighting and, finally, lighting. The lights went out for 16 minutes in the middle of Saturday night's game. 

The Bulldogs gave up a first-inning run to the Bengals (41-19), but Chloe Litchfield (So., Enterprise/Enterprise) delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the second to tie it up.

LSU Eunice scored twice in the third, and Gulf Coast loaded the bases with one out for the second inning a row, but failed to push anything more across. The Bengals scored five times in the fourth to break the game open.

Gulf Coast scored twice in the sixth and were a swing away from pulling within three, but never got closer.

The Bulldogs won 17 more games than 2022.

"I'm real proud of the improvement from last year," Kuhn said. "We got better every day. We were one win away from 40. Thirty-nine wins is good at any level. We've got to keep building on it. We had a great group of young ladies, and we've got a good core group coming back."

For more information on MGCCC's 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.