Bulldogs split regular-season home finale

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast couldn't pull of a Game 2 comeback Friday against Northwest Mississippi, and the Bulldogs settled for a split at Ross-Smith Field.

Gulf Coast (32-18, 14-9 MACCC) won the opener 8-0 in five innings but stranded the winning run at second in an 8-7 loss in the second game.

Olivia Falcon (Fr., St. Amant, La./St. Amant) threw a three-hitter in the opener, striking out two without a walk.

AB Parrish (Fr., Corinth/Alcorn Central) had a two-run single in the first, and her fielder's choice in the fourth yielded an error which allowed three runs to score. 

Irina Sanford (Fr., Lucedale/George County) ended the game with a two-run single in the fifth.

In the second game, the Bulldogs scored three times in the first. Jett Harrell (So., Clarksdale/Lee Academy) bunted and forced an error which allowed Jorja Roberson (So., Branyan/East Union) to score. Harrell caught the Rangers sleeping and stole home before the play ended. Savannah Wilbanks (Fr., Southaven/DeSoto Central) plated two with a double.

The Rangers (25-15, 12-12) would score the next eight runs, although only one was earned.

Gulf Coast rallied for four in the sixth. Roberson had a two-run double, and Harrell swapped places with her with a double of her own to make it 8-6. Aleah Beaugez (Fr., D'Iberville/D'Iberville) had a two-out single to make it 8-7.

In the seventh, Parrish had a one-out double that ended with her at third after an error. Roberson walked with two outs and stole second, but the Bulldogs couldn't get the tying run across.

Gulf Coast will close out the regular season with road trips to Meridian on Wednesday and Northeast Mississippi on Saturday.

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