MGCCC shuts out Co-Lin 2-0 at Region 23 Tourney

Megan Colvin jumps into the arms of Lindsey Keyes as the Lady Bulldogs defeated Co-Lin 2-0 in the Region 23 Tournament Friday.

Pitcher Brittany Fields (6) delivers against Co-Lin May 1.

Lady Bulldogs to battle LSU-Eunice for title Saturday

CLINTON---There would be no late-inning heroics by Co-Lin this time.

On Friday Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College avenged last week’s loss to Co-Lin in the MACJC State Title game by shutting out the Lady Wolves 2-0 an earning a date with LSU-Eunice in Saturday’s Region 23 Championship Round. The win also assures the Lady Bulldogs (25-10) a trip to Normal, Ill. for the NJCAA National Tournament May 14-16. This season both the Region 23 Champion and Runner-up qualifies for the national event. It’s the second time in three years that head coach Kenneth Long has taken Gulf Coast to the NJCAA’S.

“It’s pretty special,” Long said. “We’ve come a long way since the beginning of the season, and I love the way this team fights through adversity. They were confident heading into today’s game.”

Kayla Moran (left) gets some hitting advice from head coach Kenneth Long.

Gulf Coast used a two-run top of the second to score all the runs they needed against their MACJC South Division rivals. A Lindsey Keyes bunt brought home Megan Colvin and a sacrifice fly from Cassie Slaton scored catcher Sarah Smaltz.

“Last week we felt like we gave them the state title,” Smaltz said. “We were so fired up today and we buckled down to get the win. We wanted to prove to Coach Long that we could do it, and to everyone else that’s doubted us this season.

In the circle, freshman Brittany Fields (13-3) threw a complete-game shutout against the two-time Region 23 defending champions, giving up only four hits.

Gulf Coast will take on No. 6 LSU-E Saturday at 1 p.m. for the Region 23 crown. The Lady Bengals, who defeated Pearl River and Co-Lin to reach the championship round, must defeat Gulf Coast twice to earn the championship. Earlier in the day, Pearl River eliminated Itawamba in the six team double elimination event in Clinton.