No. 22 Bulldogs sweep No. 7 LSU-E

PERKINSTON — No. 22 Mississippi Gulf Coast swept No. 7 LSU Eunice on Monday, and coach Izzy Werdann says she hopes her Bulldogs are starting to feel like that's something that should be happening.

Gulf Coast outslugged the Bengals 8-7 in the first game thanks to a three-hit game from Caroline Batson and strong relief work from Gabby Smith. Kinsey Cochran sparked a comeback in the second game with an inside-the-park grand slam, and McKenzie Smith threw a second straight superb complete game at chilly Ross-Smith Field.

"I've been telling them that every team that we've gone up against, that we're better than them," Werdann said. "And I hope that they're starting to believe that, because I mean that from the bottom of my heart. We have all the pieces in place. And when we play like that, we can beat anybody."

Gulf Coast improved to 16-9, knocking LSU Eunice to 24-9.

The Bulldogs rallied twice in the first game, the first after giving up a two-run homer in the first. They put up a three-spot in the second, with Natalie Jones (So., Lucedale/George County) singling in the first run and two more scoring on a passed ball and a groundout.

The Bengals went back up 4-3 in the third, but Gulf Coast answered immediately. Kevionna Myers (Fr., Bassfield/Jefferson Davis) singled in the tying run in the bottom of the frame, and Breyona Tanner (Fr., Hurley/East Central) broke the tie with a single.

LSU-E tied it up in the fourth, but Brooklyn Mitchell drove in a run with a single, and Batson (So., Wiggins/Stone) doubled in two more. Batson had three hits.

"Caroline's my hardest worker," Werdann said. "It's really awesome that she can see her hard work come to fruition. I just love that my kid who works the hardest goes out there and she gets the job done. She's leading by example."

That was enough for Gabby Smith (Fr., Perkinston/Harrison Central). She struck out five in four innings of relief to earn the win.

McKenzie Smith (Fr., St. Amant, La./Prairieville) held the Bengals three runs under their average in the second game. She struck out seven and walked just one in her five-hitter. Only two of the runs she allowed were earned.

"McKenzie Smith shoved," Werdann said. "She did a really great job. I think there was one pitch where she comes back in and says, 'That was fat.' But other than that, she responded, and she held a really potent offense at bay."

The Bulldogs trailed 3-0 in the bottom of the second when Layla Barnes (So., Gulfport/D'Iberville) got plunked with the bases loaded. Cochran followed with a slashing ball deep to left that got over the center fielder's head, and she was off to the races.

"She sets the tone at the top of the lineup, and she really does a good job," Werdann said. "She can play you a small; she beat out a grounder to the second baseman, and then she goes and hits the ball to the wall. She did a really great job at keeping the defense at bay and really figuring out how to be a leadoff."

Myers crushed a more conventional homer in the third, a solo shot for a 7-3 lead.

"Juicy got all of that one," Werdann said. "She was seeing a lot of pitches, both games. She took a lot of walks. It's really great to see when she can get a hold of one. It goes far."

The Bulldogs hit the road Wednesday for an MACCC doubleheader. They'll be in Decatur to play East Central, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. The games will be streamed at https://www.eccclive.com/gold-channel/.

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