Bulldogs knock off No. 15 CACC in 2-0 day

Mississippi Gulf Coast put on an offensive display on the final day of the Chipola Visit Dothan Invitational, claiming their first nationally-ranked victim while posting two big victories to complete at 3-1 weekend in Alabama.

The Bulldogs beat No. 15 Central Alabama 9-2 and Lurleen B. Wallace 14-1 in five innings.

"It took us two innings to lock in, but once we got locked in, we were clicking," Gulf Coast coach Izzy Werdann said. "That Central Alabama win was a good win for us. It was a big one for us. It was nice to see how we line up against a team like that." 

Gulf Coast is 5-2. CACC is 2-2, and LBW is 1-5.

Breyona Tanner (Fr., Hurley/East Central) pitched a five-hitter to beat Central Alabama, allowing only two unearned runs.

"Yona threw full seven innings, so that's amazing," Werdann said. "She really kept them off balance."

Allee Williamson (Fr., Purvis/Purvis) delivered a pinch-hit groundout in the fifth that broke a 2-2 tie. The Bulldogs scored three times the next inning and tacked on two more insurance runs in the seventh.

Kinsey Cochran (So., Hurley/East Central) had three hits, and Brooklyn Mitchell (So., Gulfport/St. Patrick) had two with three RBI.

McKenzie Smith (Fr., St. Amant La./Prairieville) struck out five and gave up only one hit in four innings of the second game. She didn't walk a batter. Kate Grehan (So., Hernando/Magnolia Heights) pitched a scoreless fifth with one strikeout.

"She did a great job," Werdann said. "She was lights out for a couple innings and then gave up a big hit. She answered back, and that's what we've been talking about this week, responding after a negative play."

Lexi Patterson (Fr., Ackerman/Choctaw County) had three hits, including a three-run home run to punctuate a six-run knockout punch in the third. She also had two doubles and four RBI.

"Lexi had two home runs this weekend," Werdann said. "She blasted them over the fence, and those were super-tall fences. That was sick and massive. She did a great job."

Hannah Fenner (Fr., Semmes, Ala./Mary G. Montgomery) also had two doubles, and Mitchell and Kevionna Myers (Fr., Bassfield/Jefferson Davis) doubled. Baleigh Tullos (So., Hurley/East Central) tripled.

Mitchell batted .615 with seven in the four games in Dothan. Rushing was 6-for-11.

Gulf Coast will play in the Coyote Classic next weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The Bulldogs play Bishop State and Reid State on Friday, and Motlow State and Lamar State-Port Arthur the next day.

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.