WESSON – Tensions were high in Wesson Tuesday as the Copiah-Lincoln Lady Wolves hosted Pearl River for an important MACJC South Division doubleheader. Co-Lin swept two close games from the visiting Lady Wildcats, 3-2 and 2-1.

Co-Lin 3, Pearl River 2 

The Lady Wolves (23-16, 15-11) put their first two runs on the board in the bottom of the first when Breanna McKenzie scored Brooke Laigast on an RBI single and Missy Romero knocked in Hannah Roberts with an RBI single of her own.

Pearl River (22-16, 16-10) tied the game at two in the second before Co-Lin scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fourth. The Co-Lin half of the fourth began with a Payton Sheffield single. Sheffield gained second base on a passed ball. Laigast scored Sheffield with an RBI double that proved to be the game winner. Laigast finished the day going 3-for-4. Romero finished 2-for-2 in the game.

The slim lead was held up by exceptional pitching from Co-Lin’s Brooke Gonzales. The sophomore right hander scattered eight hits in seven innings and gave up two unearned runs while walking two and striking out two.

“Brooke was really good in game one and we played solid defensively,” said Lady Wolves head coach Allen Kent.

Co-Lin 2, Pearl River 1 

Game two went into extra innings after the teams ended up tied 1-1 after the first seven innings. The winning run came in the bottom of the eighth when Missy Romero scored on a wild pitch. Following international tie breaker rules, Romero started the inning on second base and advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt by Beth Fortenbery.

The first Co-Lin run came in the bottom of the first when Breanna McKenzie scored Brooke Laigast on an RBI sac fly. Laigast went 2-for-3 with a double. Hannah Roberts was 3-for-3 with two singles and a double to lead Co-Lin at the plate.

Freshman Rheagan Welch pitched five strong innings as the starter for Co-Lin. The Bogue Chitto product gave up one run on nine hits. Welch was replaced by Brooke Gonzales in the sixth with runners on first and second and no outs. Gonzales worked out of the jam without giving up a run and picked up the win in relief.

“Both of our pitchers did a super job today,” said Kent. “These were two huge wins that we had to have to stay in the playoff hunt and I’m so proud of the character we showed by getting it done.”

Co-Lin travels to Hinds for their final division doubleheader on Friday. First pitch in Raymond is scheduled for 11 a.m.