BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — The dream season rolls on for No. 5 Pearl River softball. In the program's first-ever NJCAA Division II World Series appearance, the Wildcats knocked off No. 2 Murray State on Sunday afternoon to punch their ticket to the National Championship game.
"These girls have fought so hard together, and everything they've done has been for each other," head coach Christie Meeks said. "When Ana hit the home run, seeing the eruption of emotions as she crossed the plate was incredible."
Back in January, Meeks spoke highly of her club's talent level, saying it might be the most talented team she had ever coached. Now, the Wildcats will face Des Moines Area Monday at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT) with a chance to capture the program's first-ever National Championship.
"I knew this team was talented early on. They practice differently — they play differently," Meeks said. "They have never changed the way they go about things. The maturity level on this team is different. They hold each other accountable, and they've taught me more than I've ever taught them."
Standing across the diamond from statistically the best offense in the country in Murray State (66-2 overall), Ana-Grace Garcia (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's) and Pearl River (47-7) never flinched.
Over seven dominant innings, the McNeese State transfer dazzled, minimizing baserunners and consistently keeping the Aggie hitters off balance. Through the first four innings, Garcia allowed just one hit while striking out six batters.
The Wildcat offense took some time to break through, but when it did, it did so in emphatic fashion. With two runners aboard, Anastasia Acree (Mobile, Ala.; Alma Bryant) stepped to the plate and delivered the game's defining swing. A pitch over the heart of the plate jumped off Acree's bat and soared over the left-field fence for a stunning three-run home run.
"Coach K talks to our offense about not being result-oriented," Meeks said. "That's what she was able to do. She put a phenomenal swing on a phenomenal pitch, and that's what happens. That was a huge moment and changed the game."
Garcia struck out the side in order in the fifth inning, giving PRCC another jolt of momentum heading into the sixth. Shanida Fondren (Batesville; South Panola) started the inning with a single and later raced home from first on Jaycee Holifield's (Laurel; Stringer) RBI double into the right-center field gap, extending the lead to 4-0. Maeli Ben (Conehatta; Newton County) followed with her third hit of the afternoon, moving Holifield to third before Teegan DeWitt (Pass Christian; Hancock) brought her home with a fielder's choice, sending Murray State to its final six outs trailing 5-0.
The Aggies managed their second hit of the day in the sixth inning, but Garcia worked around it once again. When the seventh rolled around, the right-hander quickly struck out the leadoff batter. After issuing a walk, Garcia induced a pop out before needing just six pitches to strike out the game's final batter, sending Pearl River to the National Championship game for the first time in program history.
Garcia improved to 22-2 on the season after tossing seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out 12 batters. It marked the seventh time this season Garcia reached double-digit strikeouts, and Murray State's 12 strikeouts were its most in a game all year.
"Her stuff was really spinning and moving," Meeks said. "That was the hardest she's thrown all year. Her curveball was breaking off the plate, and her changeup was disgusting. She was using both sides, working up and down, and she didn't let anything affect her."
Ben finished 3-for-3 at the plate, while Acree supplied the biggest blow of the afternoon with a three-RBI home run.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $15 per day and tournament passes are $50. Children 12 & under will be admitted for FREE.
TUNE IN
The entire 2026 NJCAA Division II Softball World Series will be streamed live on the NJCAA Network. A day pass costs $12, a tournament pass is available for $35 and an all-access pass costs $100.
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