WESSON – In a season wrought with injuries and defections, Co-Lin pitcher Sarah Anthony has carried a heavy load on her shoulders. The sophomore from Denham Springs, La. (Live Oak) authored another gritty performance Tuesday afternoon as the Lady Wolves beat the Hinds Community College Lady Eagles 8-5.

     Co-Lin swept Hinds, winning the second game 3-1.

     Anthony, slowed by a painful hip flexor injury, went the distance. She scattered 9 hits, struck out 2 and walked 5.

     “Sarah’s leg is still bothering her,” said Co-Lin head coach Allen Kent. “She had a couple of bad innings but she’s a warrior. She didn’t have her best stuff today. She started throwing changeups late in the game and that helped her a lot.”

     Anthony raised her record to 12-10 on the season. She munched on a peanut butter sandwich after the game in an effort to regain some endurance.

     “I threw the changeup more than I have in the past,” said Anthony. “My hip has been messed up.

     “I had confidence in our team’s batting,” Anthony continued. “I’m happy to get a victory.”

     The game was preceded by Hubert Greer’s booming, baritone rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner.” Co-Lin freshman Karla Beth Hux got her team rolling with a first-inning, 3-run homer  that cleared the left field fence.

     Tammy Alford singled and scored, making it 4-0.

     Hinds reduced its deficit to 4-3 before Co-Lin plated 2 more runs in the third. Bradi Davis delivered a 2-RBI double to the left-center field fence, making it 6-3.

     The Lady Eagles, 3-15 in the South Division, refused to fold., They pulled within 1 run at 6-5 in the fifth.. Olivia Tripp smashed a single off Anthony’s glove and Lindsay Harper’s RBI single drove her home.

     Co-Lin plated a pair of insurance runs in the sixth. Davis punched a single past relief pitcher Harper who replaced starter Danielle Smith in the  third. Ashley McCaffery was safe on the pitcher’s throwing error to first and it was 7-5. Emily Smith’s sacrifice fly drove home the eighth run.

     “It will be tough but we still have a shot at making the playoffs,” said Kent. His team is 7-11 in the South and 16-18 overall.

Co-Lin 3, Hinds 1

     Freshman Chynna Coghlan went the distance in collecting the win.  She scattered 8 hits, struck out 1 and walked 3 for 1 earned run.  She raised her record to 3-6.

       The Lady Wolves played exceptional defense behind Coghlan as Hinds only had 2 fly balls to the outfield in the contest. 

     “Shelby Mitchell and Emily Smith did a great job behind the plate filling in for Karla Beth at catcher,” said Kent. “Hux sustained a deep knee bruise in last week’s games at Summit.”

     Hinds took a 1-0 lead in the 4th as the Eagles loaded the bases with one out.  A fielder’s choice allowed the run to score and a single loaded the bases again.  Porter threw out a runner at the plate and first baseman Carrie Moak stabbed a line drive to end the threat.

     Co-Lin erupted for 3 runs in the 6th on 5 consecutive singles.  With 1 out, Moak, Stevie Ann Wright and Porter all singled to left to load the bases.  Tammy Alford’s bloop single to right plated Moak.  Bradi Davis beat out an infield hit to second to score Wright and Porter scampered home after the throw to first, barely beating the tag at home.

     The  Wolves made the 3-1 lead stand in the 7th.  Coghlan allowed 2 walks, but induced the potential go-ahead run to pop up to second baseman Lacy Duplantis to end the game.

     Alford’s 2 singles and RBI helped pace the hitting attack.  Davis’ 2-run single added support.  Bobbie Cochran added a single and reached on an error.