WESSON – Freshman pitcher Brooke Gonzales relied mainly on her screwball to keep the Southwest Mississippi Community College Lady Bears in check Thursday afternoon. She authored a 4-hit shutout and the Lady Wolves prevailed 3-0.

     In the nightcap, Southwest escaped with a 7-4 South Division win in extra innings. Co-Lin (22-16-1, 7-13) remains on the playoff bubble and Southwest (17-21, 7-11) is too. Southwest, coached by Patsy Sandifer, hosts East Central Saturday for a South twinbill, starting at 1 p.m.

Co-Lin 3, Southwest 0      Gonzales, a hard-throwing right-hander from Denham Springs, La., struck out 4 batters and walked 2 on a humid, summer-like afternoon.  Her teammates only committed 1 error.

     “I felt comfortable today,” said Gonzales. “I knew I had my defense behind me.”

     Gonzales said she has adjusted to the small-town atmosphere and plans to pursue a nursing career. “It’s very different but I like Co-Lin a lot.”

     She was locked in a scoreless pitching duel with Southwest freshman southpaw Carrie Phillips until the third inning. Co-Lin plated 2 runs on 2 hits, capitalizing on a pair of Southwest errors.

     Co-Lin’s Karla Beth Hux reached on a fielding error and was followed by Missy Romero who singled to center.  Another error allowed Hux to score the game’s first run. Hannah Roberts delivered an RBI single to left field for a 2-0 lead.

     In the fourth,  Kayla Craft led off with a single past third base. Elizabeth Cliburn provided a sacrifice bunt and Josie Porter’s single to left make it 3-zip.

     Phillips (2K, 1BB) gave up 4 hits before Kristen Gekler replaced her in the circle in the fourth.

     Marissa Jenkins was the only Southwest runner to reach third base. She hit a 5th-inning double to left field and was  followed by Grace Bravata’s single to right.

     “Brooke pitched a great game,” said Co-Lin coach Allen Kent. “She stayed ahead in the count most of the time.

     “Bradi Davis (second baseman) played outstanding on defense and we came through with some 2-out hits.”

Southwest 7, Co-Lin 4

     Southwest took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. With two outs, Harley Myers singled to center field and stole second. Brieana Harper singled to left and scored Myers.

     The Lady Bears added another run in the fourth inning. Phillips led off with a double to center and scored on a Marissa Jenkins  double to left to increase the Southwest lead to 2-0.

     The Lady Wolves responded in the bottom of the fourth.  Hux and Romero led off with a pair of singles. Shelby Mitchell sacrificed them over.  Roberts delivered an RBI single to left and took second on the throw home.

       Bradi Davis placed a 2-run single down the left field line for 2 RBIs, giving Co-Lin a 3-2 lead.

     Southwest loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth inning, chasing Co-Lin starter Brooke Gonzales from the mound. Sophomore Chynna Coghlan came on in relief and got out of the jam with a comeback groundout.

     The Lady Bears tied the game in the sixth, due to an unearned run. Mary Margaret McLaurin singled to left field and stole second base. Chelsea Nette singled to center to tie the game at 3-all.

     With the international tiebreaker rule in effect in the eighth, Co-Lin had a chance to hold Southwest scoreless, getting the first out of the inning.  However, an error and a walk let a run score. Meghan Johnson relieved Coghlan and Co-Lin made three consecutive errors, giving Southwest a 7-3 lead.

     Co-Lin managed a run in the bottom of the eighth as  Roberts came through with an RBI single, trimming the lead to 7-4.

     “It was a disappointing loss,” said Coach Kent. “Our pitchers deserved a better fate, as our defense totally let us down. Only two of their seven runs were earned.

      “Again, we had several other opportunities to score, but couldn’t get the timely hits when we needed them.”

     Gonzales pitched 4.2 innings, giving up 8 hits and 2 runs with 1 strikeout and one walk.

       Coghlan was saddled with the loss, pitching 2.2 innings, allowing one hit with a strikeout and a walk. She was charged with three runs, all unearned.

      Johnson pitched the final two outs, allowing one hit and one unearned run.

     At the plate,  Roberts went 4-for-4 with 2 RBI..  Moak, Hux,   Romero, and Davis had a single apiece.

     Rachel Smith picked up the win for the Lady Bears, allowing three runs, seven hits, striking out eight and walking one.

     Leading the Lady Bears’ 10-hit attack was Phillips with a double and a single. Nette and Harper had a pair of singles. Jenkins had a double.