Smith pitches No. 20 Bulldogs to split

No. 20 Mississippi Gulf Coast got another strong pitching performance from Gabby Smith, and Brooklyn Mitchell hit a three-run homer to help the Bulldogs to a split Wednesday at Pensacola State.

The Bulldogs battled back from a five-run deficit to tie the first game but lost 6-5. Smith threw a two-hitter in the nightcap as the team played for the first time since being ranked in the NJCAA Division II poll.

"Gabby kept the hitters off balance and did a really great job spinning the ball, getting mishit balls," Gulf Coast coach Izzy Werdann said. "She did a really great job handling business in the circle."

Gulf Coast is 12-5 after wrapping up pre-conference play. The Bulldogs travel to Fulton to open the MACCC schedule on Friday after the doubleheader was moved up a day to avoid forecasted rain over the weekend. First pitch will be at 2 p.m.

After a pop fly by Baleigh Tullos (So., Hurley/East Central) was dropped by the left field, allowing a run to score, Mitchell belted her home run to center. It was the first home run of the season for the sophomore shortstop from Gulfport.

"We talked about her backing off the plate, looking for a pitch in, and then just letting loose," Werdann said. "She got the barrel out and pulled the ball, selling out on the pitch that she was looking for. "She did it again on the ball that she had a double on. She did a really great job at having an approach and a plan and then executing it."

That was more than enough for Smith (Fr., Perkinston/Harrison Central), who threw a two-hitter.

Tullos' bunt in the seventh wound up scoring two runs after the Pirates (9-16) threw the ball around, allowing her to score behind a teammate.

Mitchell also doubled, joining Kinsey Cochran (So., Hurley/East Central) with two hits. Natalie Jones (So., Lucedale/George County) had a double.

In the opener, Gulf Coast didn't get its first hit until the fifth. Down 5-0, Tullos started a sixth-inning rally with a sacrifice fly. Another run scored on a grounder by Kevionna Myers (Fr., Bassfield/Jefferson Davis) forced an error, and Hannah Fenner (Fr., Semmes, Ala./Mary G. Montgomery) delivered a two-out RBI single.

Cochran started a two-out rally in the seventh with a single, then scored on Tullos' double. Mitchell walked, and Myers drove them both in with a single to tie it.

Pensacola State got a solo homer in the bottom of the inning to win.

Kailee Lawson (Fr., Hurley/East Central) had two hits.

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