POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 5 Pearl River softball team swept No. 17 Northwest 9-1 and 3-2 Saturday afternoon, earning a regional host position in the upcoming Region 23 Tournament. 

"It's a big deal when you can run-rule somebody, and you're missing your three-hole and your five-hole," head coach Christie Meeks said. "Then to show up in game two against their ace and do what we were able to do in the last couple of innings — that's guts, and that's fight. We've said it all year, and that's what's going to continue your season in the postseason."

GAME ONE
Pearl River (40-6 overall; 24-4 MACCC) wasted no time taking control against Northwest (26-17; 18-10), plating four runs in the opening inning en route to a 9-1 run-rule victory.

Leadoff hitter Kai Goodman (New Orleans, La.; John Curtis) drew a walk to start the game, and Addy Grace Alexander (Poplarville) followed with a single to put two runners aboard for Shania Fondren (Batesville; South Panola). Facing a 1-2 count, Fondren delivered a line drive over the right-field fence for her 25th home run of the season, giving the Wildcats an early 3-0 advantage. Pearl River added another run in the frame when Jaycee Holifield (Laurel; Stringer) walked and later scored on an Anastastia Acree (Mobile, Ala.; Alma Bryant) double.

The Wildcats extended their lead in the second inning. Teegan DeWitt (Pass Christian; Hancock) opened with a single, followed by another walk from Goodman. Fondren drew a walk to load the bases, setting up Holifield, who lined a single past the Rangers' second baseman to make it 6-0.

Holifield contributed again in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Goodman, who had reached on a walk. Northwest answered with an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 7-1.

Pearl River added its final runs in the fifth. Consecutive singles from Taylor Foster (Petal), DeWitt and Goodman brought in a run. After a walk to Alexander loaded the bases, Fondren ended the game with a sharply hit line drive into the left-field gap, sealing the 9-1 victory via the run rule.

Ann Elise Duncan (McComb; Brookhaven Academy) earned the win in the circle for Pearl River, tossing a complete five-inning game. She allowed one earned run on five hits while striking out two.

Fondren led the Wildcats offensively, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Holifield drove in three runs, while DeWitt added a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.

GAME TWO
Ana-Grace Garcia (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's) got the start in the circle for Pearl River in game two and turned in a strong performance to help secure a 3-2 victory over Northwest and complete the sweep.

Garcia was dominant early, facing the minimum through the first two innings. She surrendered an RBI double in the third as Northwest took a 1-0 lead, but quickly settled back in, retiring the side in order in the fourth.

Northwest added another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly to extend its lead to 2-0 before Pearl River responded in the sixth inning.

Goodman ignited the rally with a double off the fence that drove in DeWitt to cut the deficit to 2-1. Following the hit, Alexander worked a walk to put two runners on base. A wild pitch moved Goodman to third, and a throwing error by the catcher allowed her to score the tying run. Moments later, Holifield singled to center field to bring home Alexander and give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead.

Needing just three outs to clinch a Region 23 Tournament host spot, Pearl River sent Garcia back out in the seventh. Northwest led off with a single and eventually placed runners on second and third, but Garcia ended the threat with a strikeout to seal the win.

The 3-2 victory secured the sweep for Pearl River and locked up the No. 2 position in the MACCC.

NEXT UP 
More information on the Region 23 Tournament will be available soon. 

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.

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