Bulldogs split against Meridian

Turnabout was fair play Wednesday for Mississippi Gulf Coast, who got run-ruled in the opener at Meridian before reversing the tables in the second game.

The Bulldogs lost 12-4 in six innings before needing five innings to win 12-3, powered by a four-RBI game from Savannah Wilbanks (Fr., Southaven/DeSoto Central). Jett Harrell (So., Clarksdale/Lee Academy) threw a four-hitter to win.

Gulf Coast (33-19, 15-10 MACCC) will definitely be playing in the Region 23 play-in round, which is scheduled for Tuesday. Itawamba, Northeast Mississippi and Northwest Mississippi will be the other teams in that round, but the order is up in the air. The Bulldogs can clinch a hosting spot by splitting with Northeast on Saturday. First pitch in Booneville is set for 2 p.m.

Wilbanks had a three-run homer in the third inning to make it 6-0, and she drove in another run with a single in the fourth. She finished with three hits.

Jorja Roberson (So., Branyan/East Union) homered and doubled in a three-hit game, and Natalie Shaw (So., Olive Branch/Marshall Academy) doubled on her way to three safeties.

Kamryn LaFosse (So., Lake Charles, La./Sam Houston) also had four RBI, and Shaylynn Hoak (Fr., Vancleave/Vancleave) had two hits.

Harrell struck out two in her five innings of work.

Gulf Coast was up 4-2 after four innings in Game 1. Wilbanks had a first-inning grounder that scored a run, and LaFosse followed with an RBI single. LaFosse had a sacrifice fly in the third, and Harrell did likewise in the fourth.

Meridian scored eight in the fifth and two in the sixth to end it.

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