Gulfport, Miss. – The SWAC's No. 1 seed moves on as
Briana Paysinger's fifth-inning double proved to be the difference as the Wildcats opened the 2022 SWAC tournament with a 3-2 victory over Southern, Tuesday night in Gulfport.
How It Happened
The Wildcats (23-24, 17-7 SWAC) loaded the bases in the bottom of the first on a pair of hits and a walk, bu,t with only one out, they could not push a run across. The Wildcats stranded a runner at third in the second.
Southern (14-32, 11-13 SWAC) crossed the plate first in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI single.
The Jaguars opened the fifth with back-to-back hits to put runners at second and third. A flyout turned into a double play as
Haley Parks nailed the runner at the plate to keep the Jaguars quiet.
Essence Gibbs opened the bottom of the fifth with a single, and Parks dropped a perfect bunt that ate up the first baseman to put two runners in scoring position with no outs.
Joslynn Davis tied things up and put the Wildcats on the board with a single to left field.
Briana Paysinger gave the Wildcats the lead with a ringing double to right center that scored Davis and Parks to make it 3-1 in the fifth – that would prove to be enough.
Southern threatened in the seventh, putting runners on the corners with no outs. The Jaguars cut the Wildcats lead to 3-2 on a double steal with help from some miscommunication from the B-CU defense, but the Wildcats held on for the 3-2 victory.
"We saw fight," Wildcats head coach
Laura Watten said after the game. I think the nerves got to us a bit, but we knew that was going to happen – it's a young team. Southern did everything they were supposed to do. We did well by continuing to fight and finish."
The reigning SWAC Pitcher of the Year,
Hannah Ortega, made the start. She earned the win after six innings in which she allowed only one run on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Halyne Gonzalez closed things out in the seventh. She earned the save after allowing just one hit with a pair of strikeouts.
"It's all going to be better," Watten said. "We've got a big target on our back and everyone's coming at us with their 'A' Game. We will be better."
Notes
- Haley Parks , Joslynn Davis, and Essence Gibbs each enjoyed 2-3 games with a run scored.
- Thanks to Parks and Gibbs, the Wildcats recorded two triples for the first time this season.
- The Wildcats left six runners on base.
- Robinson and Davis each swiped bases for the Wildcats.
Who's Next?
With the win, the Wildcats head to the second round of the winner's bracket. They will set their sights on Prairie View A&M. The Panthers defeated FAMU to open their tournament run. Tomorrow's game will be another 7 p.m. EST start.
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--#HailWildcats--
