Entering Thursday's conference opener, the Lady Bears knew that they would have their work cut out for them against the No. 6 Northwest Lady Rangers. But they showed grit and determination in Game 1 pulling out a 2-1 win over Northwest before unfortunately dropping Game 2, 5-0.
"The girls played really well," Southwest head coach Shea Johnson said. "Anytime you can beat a team that has 13 wins in our conference, I think that you really accomplished something."
The Lady Bears (12-6 1-1 MACCC) got a good outing in Game 1 from starter Lauren Mounce. The freshman went all 7.0 innings striking out five while giving up only four hits, and one run (earned).
She got some help from her offense in the fifth when Alyssa Leggett doubled and was replaced by pinch runner Gabby Carr. Three at bats later, Abby Pevey reached on an error which allowed Carr to score putting Southwest up 1-0.
Mounce continued to keep the Lady Rangers at bay in the sixth but ran into some trouble in the seventh. Northwest rallied to plate a run, tying the game at 1. But Southwest answered and in a big way in the bottom half of the inning.
With one out, Anne Claire Sistrunk singled to center and advanced to second during the ensuing at bat on a sacrifice by Shaylee Ingram. MaryClaire Johnson came on as a pinch runner.
Londyn Robertson then stepped up in a big way with a single to center, scoring Johnson and giving Southwest the walk-off win.
Robertson led the Lady Bears with one hit and one RBI. After the game, she commented on her big game-winning hit.
"That was my third at bat and I had been seeing the ball well," she said. "I just knew that it was my turn to do something really big for my team when they needed me."
In Game 2, Southwest kept Northwest in check for the first two innings, but the Lady Rangers rallied in the third, scoring all five of their runs and putting the Lady Bears in a hole. Southwest got timely hits but could not string enough of them together in order to produce runs as they fell in the nightcap.
The Lady Bears will be back in action on Wednesday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. hosting Pearl River.
