WESSON – The Co-Lin Lady Wolves swept the Meridian Lady Eagles in two important South Division games on a sun-drenched field.

Co-Lin (20-15, 12-10) overpowered Meridian (2-31, 1-21) 13-0 in game one, then won game two in dramatic fashion 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Lady Wolves will travel to East Central for a double header on Friday with game one starting at 2:00 in Decatur.

Co-Lin 13, Meridian 0 

The Lady Wolves scored in every inning to cruise to a five-inning victory in game one. In the first inning, shortstop Brooke Laigast walked, then advanced to third on a throwing error. Savannah Johnston’s bunt in the run and later scored on a wild pitch. Catcher Kacie Berry’s sacrifice plated Johnston. Romero scored on a wild pitch giving Co-Lin a 3-0 lead after one.

The second inning saw ten Lady Wolves step up to the plate to add six more runs beginning with Kristen Byrd who reached first on a Lady Eagle error. Second baseman Adrienne Wallace and Laigast walked to load the bases. Byrd scored on a fielder’s choice. Romero doubled in two runs which led to a pitching change from Montana Holyfield to Kelsey Rogers. Rogers was greeted by a Kacie Berry double, followed by another double by left fielder Beth Fortenbery, scoring two more runs.

The third inning plated two more runs with a single by McKenzie who scored off a double by Romero. Berry plated Romero with a hot shot that scooted by the third baseman. The fourth inning began with a single by Byrd and Wallace who advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Byrd was called out at home on a fielder’s choice by Laigast, but Johnston brought Wallace home safely with a single. McKenzie doubled to score Laigast to make it 13-0.

The only Meridian batters to get a hit were Paige Gipson and Montana Holyfield.

Winning pitcher Brooke Gonzales struck out three, walked one and allowed one hit in four innings. Missy Romero pitched the fifth inning to complete the shutout.

“Brooke pitched well and we were very disciplined at the plate,” said Co-Lin coach Allen Kent.”We had a lot of good at-bats and the middle of the line-up hit very well.”

Missy Romero and Breanna McKenzie both led the team with two hits and two RBI’s. Savannah Johnston also had two RBI’s and Kristen Byrd had two singles.

Co-Lin 6, Meridian 5 

Meridian attempts to steal game two failed after rallying back to tie the game at 5-5 in the top of the seventh. Co-Lin’s Missy Romero collected her fifth hit and fourth RBI of the day by plating Brooke Laigast, who singled to lead-off the bottom of the seventh.

After a high scoring game one, the Lady Wolves started off slow due to a strong start from pitcher Lyndsey Cannon. The first eight batters were retired in order, but catcher Adrienne Wallace broke the ice with a bunt single in the third inning. Laigast walked and both Wallace and Laigast scored on a double steal that induced a throwing error into left field.

Johnston walked and McKenzie singled to right field. Romero hit another RBI single to make it 3-0. In the fourth, third baseman Kayla Craft tripled to right field and scored on a deep sacrifice fly by left fielder Kaitlin Cooksey. The Lady Wolves added another run in the fifth with a Johnston single and an RBI single by McKenzie.

Meridian scored two in the fifth on pitcher Rheagan Welch. Montana Holyfield singled, Paige Bowser walked and Casey Bolton singled to left field to record their first RBI. Kenya Harris reached base on a fielder’s choice and ended up scoring on a passed ball.

In the top of the seventh, the Lady Eagles tied the game on a double by Cheyenne Barefoot with the bases loaded. Welch pitched 6 complete innings, allowing four hits with four strike-outs and one walk. Meagan Johnson pitched the top of the seventh, allowing one hit and one walk before Brooke Gonzales returned to the circle. Gonzales got the win after the Lady Wolves scored in the bottom of the seventh.

“We let them hang around for too long in game two,” continued Kent. “You got to give them credit for their effort after losing the first game 13-0. We weren’t as disciplined at the plate, but we regained our focus at the end and executed when we had to.”

When asked about her outstanding day at the plate, Missy Romero smiled and humbly replied, “I just reacted to the pitches instead of over thinking it and trying too hard. Instead of anticipating what was coming, I just went with the pitch.” Romero finished with three hits and two RBI’s in game two. Breanna McKenzie had two hits. Cheyenne Barefoot had three RBI’s and Casey Bolton had two hits for Meridian.