POPLARVILLE — The Co-Lin Lady Wolves captured the MACJC SouthDivision championship with a fastpitch softball split with thePearl RiverCommunity College Lady Wildcats Saturday afternoon.Co-Lin won the opener 1-0 and lost the second contest 4-3.

“We clinched the South Division title with a first-gamevictory,” said Co-Lin head fastpitch softball coach Allen Kent.”Now we host the state tournament which has been our first priorityall season long. This also guarantees us a spot in the regionaltournament.”

The Lady Wolves were nationally ranked No. 5 this week.

Copiah-Lincoln (29-7, 12-2) wraps up regular season playWednesday at Ellisville where the Lady Wolves square off againstthird place Jones County Junior College.

Pearl River wraps up the season 17-16 overall and 7-9 in thedivision. Next week’s doubleheader against Southwest Mississippi inPoplarville has been forfeited to the Lady Wildcats.

Co-Lin 1, Pearl River 0

The Lady Wolves went up 1-0 in the first inning and held on forthe win. Third baseman Megan Bateman led off the game with a tripleto right field and Erin Douglass ripped a RBI single up the middlefor the games only run.

“This was a very big win for us, taking the pressure off of usand clinching the division title, ” added Kent.

The winning pitcher in the opener was Emily Horne (12-3) with 15strikeouts, 4 walks and 2 hit batters. Brittany Johnson (7-10)struck out 1 batter and walked 1.

Contributing to the Lady Wolves’ win with a single were CandaceBraxton, Kady King and Allyson Wallace.

For Pearl River, Krystal Penton singled.

Pearl River 4, Co-Lin 3

Co-Lin went up 2-0 in the top of the second inning. Jackie Stowesingled and took second on a sacrifice by Kady King. Stowe stolethird and home plate on a 2-out single by Lauren Smith. Smithadvanced on a wild pitch and scored on Holly Pyles’ single to rightfield.

The Lady Wolves added another run in the top of the fifth for a3-0 lead over the Lady Wildcats. Annie Selman singled and stolesecond. Erin Douglass drilled a 2-out single to score Selman.

Pearl River came back with three runs in the bottom of the sixthto tie the game at 3-all. The Lady Wildcats picked up thegame-winning run in the bottom of the seventh to pull out thewin.

“Pearl River wanted it more than we did,” stated Kent. “I givethem credit. They took full advantage of every opportunity they hadand we didn’t.”

Jennifer Sims (7-6) was the winning hurler with 4 strikeouts and2 walks. Erin Douglass (13-4) fanned 1 batter, walked 4 and hit 1batter.

Adding support in the Lady Wolves’ win with a double was Smith.With a single were Selman , Stowe and Pyles.

Amber Gray doubled and singled for 2 RBI for the LadyWildcats.