No. 22 Bulldogs sweep Holmes

PERKINSTON — No. 22 Mississippi Gulf Coast picked up its first MACCC wins Saturday by sweeping Holmes at Ross-Smith Field, and the reason why was easy to explain.

"We hit," Gulf Coast coach Izzy Werdann said. "Point blank, period."

The Bulldogs (14-9, 2-4) won the opener 2-0 behind a two-hitter by McKenzie Smith, and Breyona Tanner delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly to earn a 4-3 victory in the nightcap.

Smith struck out four and walked two in her first shutout of the season, improving to 3-1.

"I wanted to see what she could do starting, and she really went out there and did the dang thing," Werdann said. "It was really exciting."

Brooklyn Mitchell (So., Gulfport/St. Patrick) had an RBI single in the first for all Smith would need, and Natalie Jones (So., Lucedale/George County) doubled in an insurance run in the fifth. Jones was the only Bulldog with two hits. 

Gabby Smith (Fr., Perkinston/Harrison Central) got the start in the second game, and she took a three-hitter into the seventh of a 3-3 game. After giving up a single to start the inning, Werdann brought in Breyona Tanner (Fr., Hurley/East Central).

She got a foul out, gave up a single and got the second out on a sacrifice bunt. After a walk to load the bases, Tanner grabbed a ground ball and got the third out.

Kevionna Myers (Fr., Bassfield/Jefferson Davis) got plunked to lead off the bottom of the inning, and Caroline Batson (So., Wiggins/Stone) walked. After a wild pitch, Holmes intentionally walked Kailee Lawson (Fr., Hurley/East Central).

The next Bulldog grounded out, but Tanner lashed a fly ball to center field that scored Batson to end the game.

"It's gonna give a lot of confidence for the kids, because Holmes is a good team," Werdann said. "Hopefully, it provides them with a little bit of trust in what we've been doing and how we've been training, knowing that we're doing the right thing. Hopefully, they feel the confidence and play a little bit freer next time."

Batson went 3-for-3, and Jones had another double.

Holmes is 18-12, 3-3.

Gulf Coast steps outside the MACCC on Monday when No. 7 LSU Eunice visits Perk. First pitch in the doubleheader is set for 4 p.m., and the games will be streamed at https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch.

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