Smith’s gem earns split against No. 20 Gulf Coast State

Freshman Gabby Smith threw a three-hitter to lead Mississippi Gulf Coast past No. 20 Gulf Coast State and help the Bulldogs to a split Friday in Panama City, Fla.

Smith struck out three without a walk to win 1-0 in the nightcap of a doubleheader. The Bulldogs lost 4-0 in the opener.

"She shoved, hands down," Gulf Coast coach Izzy Werdann said. "There's no other way to describe it: she shoved for seven innings. There's some pretty decent hitters over there, and the first inning she gave up a couple long-ball outs. I told her when she went out for the second inning to go get some people out because you spin the ball. She went out, and she spun the ball and got some mishits, got some strikeouts, and really grew her craft in those six innings."

Gulf Coast is now 10-3, and NJCAA Division I Gulf Coast State is 19-6. It's the second top-20 team the Bulldogs have beaten already this year, having topped preseason No. 15 Central Alabama earlier in February.

Smith (Fr., Perkinston/Harrison Central) gave up one hit through five, then allowed the first two batters in the sixth to reach on a single and a hit batter. She struck out the next batter, then got a groundout and a lineout to end the threat.

Brooklyn Mitchell (So., Gulfport/St. Patrick) singled to lead off the fourth, and Piper Rushing (Fr., D'Iberville/D'Iberville) delivered a one-out double to score the only run.

"Piper was swinging well today," Werdann said. "Even the balls that she missed, she was still on the ball like she was seeing it well."

Natalie Jones (So., Lucedale/George County) also had a double for the Gulf Coast, which outhit the Commodores 6-3. Mitchell was the only player with two hits. 

In the opener, Gulf Coast managed only three hits against Gulf Coast State.

The Bulldogs are hanging around in Panama City on Friday night, scheduled to play Snead State at 10 a.m. and another game against Gulf Coast State at 3 p.m. The game against the Commodores will be pay-per-view at https://www.commodoreproductions.com/live/. 

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