With the factors of conference play and being at home both in play Tuesday, that was all the motivation the Lady Bears needed against visiting Mississippi Delta as Southwest got big performances from Corin Talbot and Alyssa Leggett in a sweep of the Lady Trojans taking Game 1, 7-1 and Game 2, 12-7.
"Anytime you can get to .500 in our conference, it is a good thing," Southwest head coach Shea Johnson said. "I felt like our girls had control the whole time. The girls came out and held on to it the whole time and I thought that was big for us."
Several players stepped up for Southwest (8-14, 2-2 MACCC) but it was the offense of Leggett and the pitching of Talbot that led the charge. Leggett had big performances in both contests finishing the day with five total hits including a home run and a double to go along with seven RBIs and three runs scored.
"I just felt really confident going into today, doing what I needed to do to help my team," Leggett said. "I tried my best to get hits to help the pitchers feel more confident on the mound."
Leggett's stellar play helped Talbot in the circle in Game 1 as she got the start and locked in early on striking out two Lady Trojans in the first inning, helping to set the tone.
The offense immediately responded in just the second at bat when Liberty Gillihan sent an 0-1 pitch over the right field wall giving Southwest an early 1-0 lead.
Talbot helped her own cause following with a double during the ensuing at bat. After advancing to third on a single by Allie Ladnier, Talbot touched home during the next at bat when Leggett reached on an error, making it a 2-0 game.
Having the lead helped motivate Talbot as she struck out three of the four batters she faced in the second, keeping the Delta offense at bay.
Malley Chase Faulkner, who got the start at second base, made the most of her opportunity to shine launching a double off the right field wall, scoring Lauryn Roebuck who singled in the previous at bat. Southwest led 3-0 after two innings.
Leggett made it a 4-0 game with an RBI double in the third before she smashed a two run home run during her next at bat in the fifth, increasing the Lady Bear lead to 6-0.
Delta scratched a run across in the sixth but it was answered in the bottom half of the inning as Faulkner delivered again, this time with an RBI single. After the game, she said that she was glad that she took advantage of her opportunity.
"I've been waiting for this," said Faulkner who felt a sense of responsibility and motivation batting ninth, crucial spot in the lineup. "It is not just the motivation for myself but also for my team. I want to do what's best for my team and make sure that I get the runs in and get on base so that somebody can bring me in."
Faulkner recorded two hits and two RBIs. Ladner also had two hits to go along with two runs scored. Leggett led the charge with two hits, a run scored and four RBIs.
Talbot came on in the seventh and put a bow on her huge performance closing out the Lady Trojans to seal the win. She went the distance for the Lady Bears giving up only three hits, one run (earned) and four walks while striking out a new season high of 12 batters surpassing her previous mark of seven.
"In warm ups, I felt really good and from the first pitch to the last, all of my balls were moving and I felt my rise (ball) working today," said Talbot.
Southwest carried over the momentum built into Game 2 and got the bats going early in the first inning.
A sacrifice fly from Ladnier was followed by a Leggett RBI single, a two-run home run from Talbot, an RBI double from Abbey Pevey and an RBI single from Erin Acey. When the dust settled, the Lady Bears enjoyed a 6-0 lead.
Skye Sharp — who got the start in Game 2 — retired the side in order in the second.
The Lady Trojans, however, rallied in the third plating three runs and cutting the Southwest lead in half at 6-3.
The Lady Bears got one run back in the bottom half of the inning when Kate Clements scored as Acey reached on an error.
Delta scored two more runs in the fourth to inch closer and make it a 7-5 Southwest lead.
But a trio of RBI singles in the fifth from Maggie Wilks, Leggett and Clements grew the Lady Bear lead to seven at 12-5.
The Lady Trojans scored their final two runs in the sixth but Ladnier, who came on in relief of Sharp, shut the door on any future opportunities in the inning before retiring the side in order in the seventh, preserving the win for Southwest.
Leggett once again led the Lady Bears in Game 2 going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Talbot and Clements both finished with two hits and two RBIs apiece.
