POPLARVILLE — The Co-Lin Lady Wolves had something to celebrateduring Saturday’s return bus ride to Wesson. They were fresh fromsweeping the No. 4-nationally ranked Pearl River Community CollegeLady Wildcats in South Division softball action, winning 2-1 and5-4 in 1 extra inning.

Co-Lin, coached by Allen Kent, will recognize its sophomoresTuesday when they play host to Jones County Junior College in adoubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. The Lady Wolves are 21-10 on theseason and 8-4 in the division. The Lady Wildcats fell to 7-7 indivision play.

Co-Lin 2, Pearl River 1

Co-Lin sophomore pitcher Becca Bailey (8-4) hurled a 4 hitter.Bailey struck out 6 batters, walked 1 and allowed no earnedruns.

“It was a good pitching matchup,” said Kent. “We only scratchedout four hits but we held on and got a crucial win in the firstgame.”

In the second inning, Co-Lin centerfielder Emily Langley rippeda 1-out double and advanced to third on a passed ball. Meleah Brownreached base on an error and Langley scored.

In third-inning action, Co-Lin’s Rebecca Rousseau singled andKayla Crochet hit into a fielders choice with one out. AshleySykes’ clutch 2-out single to left scored Crochet for a 2-0lead.

Bailey shut down the Lady Wildcats until the seventh as PearlRiver scored on a double and 2 errors. The hosts had the tying andwinning runs on second and third. Bailey induced a soft line-out toCrochet at second to end the game.

Both teams stranded 7 players on base.

Co-Lin 5, Co-Lin 4

In the second game, Pearl River outhit Co-Lin 10-9 but the LadyWolves prevailed again.

Following 2 scoreless innings, the Lady Wolves took a 1-0 leadover PRCC. Starting pitcher Crochet singled with 1 out. Following apopup, Crochet stole second and stole home following a single byAshley Sykes.

The Lady Wildcats came back to tie the game 1-all the bottom ofthe third and left the bases loaded.

The top of the fourth saw Co-Lin post 1 run to take a 2-1 lead.Brown and Chelsey Miller singled. Following a sacrifice bunt byRousseau, Brown scored on Becca Boone’s sacrifice fly tocenter.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Wildcats collected a pairof runs to take a 3-2 lead. Bailey replaced Crochet on the moundand allowed a swing bunt hit. An infield single loaded the bases.With 2 out, a single plated both runs.

The Lady Wolves came back to tie the game at 3-all, scoring 1run in the top of the seventh. Bailey was hit by a pitch and AlexFoster took over as the pinch runner. Sykes singled to left. EmilyLangley advanced both runners on a fielder’s choice. Following astrikeout, Brown delivered a huge 2-out single on a 2-2 count totie the game at 3.

Bailey foiled a comeback in the seventh, getting out of abases-loaded jam and sent the game into extra innings.

With the international tiebreaker run in effect, Miller wasplaced on second base. Rousseau laid down a bunt and Pearl Rivertried to get Miller out a third but she beat the tag and Rousseauadvanced to second. Boone hit another sacrifice fly to scoreMiller. Crochet followed with an RBI double to left-center to giveCo-Lin the 5-3 lead.

Pearl River scratched a run in the bottom of the eighth on asacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly. Right fielder Devon Welch endedthe threat with a running catch off a hard line drive.

Bailey collected her second win of the day, going 3 innings with3 hits allowed, 3 strikeouts and 2 walks. Crochet worked fiveinnings, allowing 4 hits, striking out 5 and walking 2.

For the Lady Wolves, Brown and Crochet each had 3 hits, a runscored and an RBI. Boone hit 2 RBI sacrifice flys. Sykes singledtwice.

“I was really proud of how our girls responded after losing thelead,” said Kent. “These wins were so big for us. Sweeping PearlRiver at their place is not a easy task.

“This was sweet revenge after watching them celebrate last yearafter beating us at their place.”