Split with Faulkner spells first win for Lady ''Cats

POPLARVILLE Janessa Dedeaux cracked an RBI-double to deep left field in the bottom of the seventh inning here Tuesday to propel the Pearl River Lady Wildcats to their first win of the 2012 season with an 8-7 decision over Faulkner State (Ala.). Dedeaux, a sophomore catcher who prepped at Poplarville High School who went three-for-five in the home opener, also helped the winning cause with a solo home run in the fifth. The visiting Lady Sun Chiefs, on the other hand, rebounded in the nightcap game to take a 5-0 shutout and improve to 8-2 overall. PRCC is now 1-4. After FSCC went three up, three down to kick off the first game, The River left runners at first and second in the bottom of the opening frame before the Lady Sun Chiefs managed a solo run in the top of the second. Pearl River starter Neely McCrary of Petal High walked two straight to open the frame before Taylor Felts reached on a fielder choice. Ericka Williams then reached on an error an ground out later to push in a run before McCrary struck out Emily Holly for the third out. Faulkner padded its lead in the top of the third when Laney Nichols cracked a two-out single and Kayla Messer followed with a walk. The base runners advanced to second and third off passed ball, setting the stage for Bailey Cincotta two-run double to center to make it 3-0. McCrary Kd Katy Payne for the final out. PRCC commenced catch up in the bottom of the inning when ETrareo Warren of Meridian High led off with a double to right center and Whitney Waits of Oak Grove High followed with a base on balls. After McCrary struck out, Dedeaux doubled in Warren and Waits was thrown out at home before Brittany LeBlanc out of North Vermillion High in Lafayette, La., grounded to the pitcher to end the inning. Heather Hester relieved McCrary to kick off the fourth and the sophomore out of Hancock County High immediately gave up a lead off single to Felts before Williams reached on an error. With runners a first and third, Felts scored on a double steal then Emily Holley smacked an RBI single to make it 5-1. After Anna Meitzler hit into a double play, Jasmine Wells singled to third, moved to second on a passed ball, and scored off Nichols single before Messer flew to center for the final out. The Lady Wildcats loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame, but couldnt cash in. Alyssa Graeter of Poplarville High led off with a double to left center, Morghan Cuevas of Purvis High walked, and Amanda Emerson of Sumrall High was belted by a pitch. Christina Hart out of Northshore High in Slidell, La., then struck out, Warren popped out to third, and Waits foul out ended the inning. In the top of the fifth, Faulkner left runners at first and third off a one-out double by Payne and a walk, but Adrianna Booth hit into a double play to squash the threat. In the bottom of the inning, Dedeaux got The River rolling with a one-out solo homer over the left field fence before LeBlanc was hit by a pitch, Graeter singled, and Cuevas followed with an RBI double to left. After starter Felts walked Emerson to load the bases, she exited the mound for Paige Caraway who immediately saw Hart reach on an error to make it 6-4. Cuevas was thrown out at third before Warren walked to reload the corners, but Waits grounded to the pitcher to end the inning. In the top of the sixth, Holley led off with a walk and moved to third on back-to-back sacrifices before scoring the Lady Sun Chiefs final run off Nichols single. Hester struck out Messer for the final out. LeBlanc managed a two-out double in the bottom of the frame and Faulkner went three up three down in the top of the final inning, which set the stage for Pearl River dramatic, game-winning rally. Lead off Cuevas struck out then Emerson walked. Hillary Dickens of Picayune High followed with a two-run homer off the center field scoreboard, then Warren walked and Waits was belted by a pitch. Hester then crushed an up-the-middle double to knot it up at 7-7 before Dedeaux followed with the game-winning double to the left field fence. Hester (1-0) picked up the win, giving up five hits, striking out two, and walking two; while McCrary gave up two hits, struck out four, and walked two in her three innings on the mound. Caraway got the loss, giving up four hits, striking out one, walking two, and hitting a batter; while Felts went four-and-a-third, giving up seven hits, striking out two, walking one, and hitting a batter. Nichols paced FSCC seven-hit effort with two singles (two RBIs), while Cincotta (two RBIs) and Payne both doubled. Felts and Wells both singled, while Holley and Williams had RBIs for the Lady Sun Chiefs. Graeter led Pearl River 12-hit attack with a double and two singles, while Dedeaux homered and belted two doubles (three RBIs), Dickens homered (two RBIs), and Cuevas (one RBI), Hester (one RBI), LeBlanc, McCrary, and Warren all doubled. Hart had an RBI for the Lady Wildcats. PRCC committed two errors in the contes to FSCC one. In the nightcap, Faulkner State scored solo runs in the top of the first and third innings and three in the sixth to take the shutout victory. Starter Katy Messick got the win in going the distance, giving up four hits, striking out four, and walking one; while River starter LeBlanc (0-2) got the loss. She gave up seven hits and struck out four in going the distance. Melissa Walker led FSCC at the plate with a double and a single (two RBIs), while Erica Davis, Chanae Lyles (one RBI), Messer, Hali Sclafini, and Wells (one RBI) all had base hits. Leblanc doubled for the Lady Wildcats, while Dedeaux, Shalyn Stevens of Picayune High, and Warren all singled. Pearl River returns to action Friday when MACJC non-division rival Holmes CC visits for a 2 p.m. twin bill, then enters the Meridian CC Tournament in Meridian Saturday (opponents, game times TBA) before traveling to Baton Rouge CC in Baton Rouge, La., Thursday, Feb. 23, for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.