DECATUR, Miss. — No. 5 Pearl River softball overwhelmed East Central with an offensive onslaught Tuesday, piling up 22 hits and launching six home runs to sweep the Warriors 8-0 in five innings and 12-1 in the nightcap.

"We stuck to the approach, adjusted within our at-bats and strung things together," Pearl River head coach Christie Meeks said. "The offense didn't make little outs a big deal. East Central swings it well, so our pitchers had to adjust with them. They did a good job mixing things up."

"You want to get hot this time of year, and that's what we're starting to see. We're playing free and composed again."

With the wins, Pearl River pushed its conference total to 22 — the most in a single season in program history.

"This is a special group," he added. "This conference is tough — there are eight teams ranked in the top 20, and it's been like that all year. We've got another big one Saturday, so we've just got to keep taking it one game at a time."

GAME ONE
Pearl River (38-6 overall; 22-4 MACCC) set the tone early, working three walks in the opening inning before breaking through in the second.

After putting two aboard, Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Central) shot a two-run single through the right side to make it 2-0. The Wildcats leaned on the long ball from there.

Anastasia Acree (Mobile, Ala.; Alma Bryant) opened the third with a solo home run to extend the lead, and Pearl River blew things open in the fourth.

Teegan DeWitt (Pass Christian; Hancock) launched her second home run of the season to make it 4-0 before the Wildcats loaded the bases with two outs. Pinch-hitter Zion Seals (Shannon; Nettleton) worked a full count and then delivered the biggest swing of the game, sending her first collegiate home run over the left-field wall for a grand slam and an 8-0 advantage.

Ann Elise Duncan (McComb; Brookhaven Academy) handled the rest, working around traffic in the fourth and fifth to secure the run-rule victory.

Eaves led the offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Seals drove in four, while Emmaleigh Theriot (Prairieville, La.; St. Amant) added two hits. Acree and Shania Fondren (Batesville; South Panola) each drew two walks.

Duncan tossed a five-inning shutout, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out four.

GAME TWO
Pearl River wasted no time jumping in front again.

Emmaleigh Theriot (Prairieville, La.; St. Amant) tripled to spark the offense and came home two batters later on an RBI infield single from Teegan DeWitt (Pass Christian; Hancock) to make it 1-0.

East Central answered in the second to even things at 1-1, but the Wildcats quickly flipped the momentum back in their favor with — once again — the long ball.

Shania Fondren (Batesville; South Panola) broke the tie in the third, launching a solo home run to put Pearl River back in front. One pitch later, Jaycee Holifield (Laurel; Stringer) followed with a back-to-back blast to extend the lead to 3-1.

Pearl River continued to apply pressure over the middle innings. Theriot added another hit in the fifth, and Holifield pushed across a run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth to make it 5-1.

The Wildcats blew things open in the seventh.

An error and a fielder's choice plated a pair before Fondren worked a bases-loaded walk. Moments later, Holifield delivered the decisive swing, hammering a grand slam to straightaway center — her second home run of the game — to push the lead to 12-1.

Garcia closed it out in the bottom half, inducing a double play to secure the sweep.

Holifield led the way, finishing 2-for-4 with six RBIs and two runs scored. Theriot went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, while Fondren reached base three times with a home run and two walks.

Garcia tossed a complete game, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out six.

NEXT UP
Pearl River returns to Wildcat Stadium Saturday for a 1/3 p.m. matchup with Northwest. It will be PRCC's last regular season contest.

TICKETS
Season and single-game tickets are on sale now at PRCCAthletics.com/Tickets.

TUNE IN
All home Pearl River softball games are livestreamed for free at PRCCMedia.com/Gold. Fans with Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch the Wildcat broadcasts by downloading the "Pearl River CC" channel from their app stores.

For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).