Falcon throws No. 20 Bulldogs to split

PERKINSTON — Things looked bleak in the first inning of Tuesday's second game of No. 20 Mississippi Gulf Coast's doubleheader against No. 21 Itawamba, so a call to the bullpen was in order.

They brought in Olivia Falcon, who got out of a big jam and lined up enough zeroes until the Bulldogs won 3-2. It was a big rebound game after losing 11-3 in five innings in the first game.

"One bad inning in Game 1, but that's a tribute to them," Gulf Coast coach David Kuhn said. "They beat the socks off us in that game, so you tip your cap to them. Game 2, we chipped away and held on."

The Bulldogs improved to 19-8 overall and 2-2 in the MACCC. Itawamba is 18-5, 3-1.

Gulf Coast's game at East Mississippi has been moved up to Friday because of a poor weather forecast on Saturday. The doubleheader will start at 1 p.m.

Falcon got a strikeout to end the first inning and strand the bases loaded. She'd finish with six strikeouts in 6.1 innings and improved to 6-1. The sophomore from St. Amant, La., allowed just five hits.

Annaston Tate (Fr., Waynesboro/Wayne County) also threw out two baserunners stealing, including one in the first inning when ICC drew four walks without scoring.

The big hit came from Brooklyn Mitchell (Fr., Gulfport/St. Patrick), whose two-run single in the third provided the first runs. Irina Sanford (So., Lucedale/George County) added an insurance run with a two-out single in the fourth.

Sanford was the only player in the game with two hits.

The Bulldogs made four errors in the first game, two of which helped fuel a nine-run third innings.

Baleigh Tullos (Fr., Hurley/East Central) had two hits and an RBI. Kinsey Cochran (Fr., Hurley/East Central) drove in the other run.

Brighley Crayon (Fr., Montgomery, La./Montgomery) threw 2.1 innings of two-hit, scoreless relief.

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