POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College remained in the thick of the playoff hunt in MACJC softball Sunday at Wildcat Stadium, splitting a doubleheader against Holmes.
The Wildcats jumped out to a big early lead and coasted to an 8-0 win in six innings in the opener, and the Bulldogs did the same in the nightcap, taking an early lead and winning in five innings 10-0.
PRCC (19-15 overall) remains tied for fifth place with East Central in the MACJC standings at 12-8, with eight games remaining on the regular season schedule. Holmes completed play at 16-16 and 7-13.
The Wildcats wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard in the first game, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Sophomore Anna Grace Cooley (Lucedale) drew a leadoff walk, stole second, took third and scored on a single by sophomore Olivia Holley (Biloxi).
After loading the bases on a walk, Holley's single and a hit batter, freshman Alyssa Pinero (Picayune) smacked a grand slam over the fence in left-centerfield for her first home run of the season. Sophomore Ramee Taylor (Hurley) hit the next pitch over the centerfield fence to make the score 6-0.
Holley also drove in a run in the second with a single after freshman Elizabeth Taggard doubled.
The Wildcats brought the game to an end in the sixth inning when freshman Mary Grace Turner (Leakesville) singled to lead off, took second on a groundout and scored on a single by Halle Melone.
Holley (11-7) went the distance in the circle, giving up five hits, striking out one and walking two. The Wildcats helped her defensively by turning three double plays.
The Bulldogs flipped the script in the nightcap, scoring five runs in the first and five more in the second. PRCC was held to just two singles.
PRCC returns to the road this week for a pair of critical contests, 3 p.m. Tuesday at Copiah-Lincoln and 1 p.m. Friday at Northwest Mississippi
PRCC SOFTBALL LINESCORES
Sunday at Poplarville
Pearl River 8, Holmes 0 (6 innings)
Holmes 000 000 – 0 5 0
Pearl River 610 001 – 8 10 1
HOLMES (15-16, 6-13 in MACJC): Madison Fields 1B; Madison Womble 1B; Courtney Hatcher 1B; Callie Arender 1B; Becca Kennedy 1B. LP – Katie Lawrence (7-8). Also pitching – Brooklyne Eubanks; Juliet Warriner.
PEARL RIVER (19-14, 12-7 in MACJC): Mary Grace Turner 1B; Elizabeth Taggard 2B; Halle Melone 1B; Olivia Holley 2 1B; Ilyssa Easton 1B; Alyssa Pinero HR (grand slam); Ramee Taylor HR (solo); Destiny Wesley 1B. WP – Olivia Holley (11-7).
Holmes 10, Pearl River 0 (5 innings)
Holmes 550 00 – 10 10 1
Pearl River 000 00 – 0 2 1
HOLMES (16-16, 7-13 in MACJC): Madison Fields 1B; Becca Kennedy 1B; Callie Arender 1B; Courtney Hatcher 2 1B; Aubree McWilliams 1B; Avery Thornton HR (3-run); Abby Bouslay 2B, 2 1B. WP – Allison Irby (6-8).
PEARL RIVER (19-15, 12-8 in MACJC): Anna Grace Cooley 1B; Alyssa Pinero 1B. LP – Rylee Swilley (4-6). Also pitching – Dallas Blaker; Olivia Holley.