Gulf Coast looks to start new win streak

PERKINSTON – Bouncing back from their first defeat of the season, the Mississippi Gulf Coast softball team hopes to put their basketball skills to use.

The Lady Bulldogs saw a season-opening 17-game win streak end Tuesday against Pearl River.

"We talked about it for a few minutes Wednesday," Gulf Coast coach Kenneth Long said. "We have to put that game behind us. We threw it in the trash."

Gulf Coast has a tough test ahead, with Itawamba visiting Ross-Smith Field on Thursday. First pitch for the doubleheader is 2 p.m.

The teams played in the first round of the MACJC playoffs last year. Gulf Coast went on the road to Fulton and swept the best-of-three series.

The state changed its softball format this season with the elimination of divisions. All teams will play a single series against each team, with the top eight advancing to the postseason.

Itawamba (15-2) is riding a 14-game win streak of its own. The Lady Indians will be playing their first conference games.

"They're a better team than they were last year," Long said. "They hit better. They're going to be real good defensively. They're going to be one of the best, if not the top, team from up north."

Sophomore Kaitlin Bradley leads ICC, hitting .549 with three home runs and 19 RBI. Carleigh Mills and Katlin McDuffy are undefeated in five decisions with sub-2.00 ERAs.

Gulf Coast continues to be led at the plate by Lexie Mathis, who leads all NJCAA Division II players with nine home runs. Brittany Cooley is batting .441.

Kaitlin Lee is 9-0 with a 0.64 ERA. Her ERA is third best in the country among pitchers with more than 20 innings pitched.

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