Gulf Coast ranked seventh in NJCAA poll
PERKINSTON – Mississippi Gulf Coast is ranked seventh in the latest NJCAA Division II Softball poll, which came out Wednesday.
The Lady Bulldogs (20-2, 4-2 MACJC) opened the season with a 16-game winning streak, including two wins over the defending NJCAA Division I national champs, No. 5 Chipola, and another win against Division I No. 16 Chattanooga State.
They were ranked sixth in the preseason poll. They are one of four MACJC teams ranked in the top 10: No. 4 Jones, No. 5 East Central and No. 10 Itawamba.
The Lady Bulldogs had two weekend doubleheaders moved because of anticipated bad weather. Their games at Coahoma and Northeast are being rescheduled, possibly to dates next week.
Gulf Coast freshman shortstop Lexie Mathis is tied for the national lead with nine home runs, and her 32 RBI rank second. Center fielder Hannah Melenedrez's seven home runs are tied for third most in the county.
Right-handed pitcher Kaitlin Lee, an Ole Miss signee, has a 0.52 ERA, which is third best among pitchers with 20 or more innings pitched. Her 10 wins are tied for third, and she's struck out 65 batters, third most in the country.
For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCAthletics on Twitter and BulldogLIVE on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.
