Bulldogs await postseason foe after split

Mississippi Gulf Coast split its regular-season MACCC softball doubleheader finale Saturday, but the results didn't affect the Bulldogs' postseason status.

Gulf Coast beat Holmes 9-0 at Goodman in five innings in the first game, but lost 1-0 in the second.

The Bulldogs had locked in a sixth-place finish in the MACCC standings before Saturday's doubleheader. They'll be the seven-seed in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament, heading to Ellisville for a play-in game.

"Thursday is loser-leaves-town," Gulf Coast coach David Kuhn said. "There's no tomorrow, we have to come out ready to play no matter who it is. Stay relaxed, have fun."

The Bulldogs (34-17, 15-11 MACCC) got a four-hit shutout from Olivia Falcon (So., St. Amant, La./St. Amant) in the opener. Savannah Wilbanks (So., Southaven/DeSoto Central) went 3-for-3 with a homer, a double and three RBI.

AB Parrish (So., Corinth/Alcorn Central) also had three hits, including a double.

Madison Laiche (Fr., Luling, La./John Curtis) threw a three-hitter in the second game. She retired the first nine batters she faced, allowing a fifth-inning run.

Gulf Coast couldn't get the timely hit it needed, stranding the bases loaded in the fourth.

Abby Lindsey (Fr., Decatur, Ala./Austin) had three hits, and Brooklyn Mitchell (Fr., Gulfport/St. Patrick) had two.

Holmes finishes the season 15-27, 5-21.

The Bulldogs may have to wait until Monday to find out who they play. Southwest Mississippi could get into a tie for the 10^th-seed with East Mississippi and Hinds. Gulf Coast will play the winner of that tiebreaker.

"We know we can beat anybody if we show up," Kuhn said, "and we know if we don't show up, we're capable of losing to anybody." 

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.