Behind a usually strong performance by pitcher Lauren Wells, North Pike defeated McComb 13-1 Friday night in prep fast pitch action in front of a packed house at Sammy Clark Field.
Wells fanned 12 and allowed one run on four hits.
“We came in mentally ready tonight,” North Pike coach Sonya Wallace said. “The girls have worked really hard this week. Lauren had another good game for us and was able to keep them off balance all night.”
MHS coach Cody Hall was hoping his team’s fast start against Ridgeland on Thursday would carry over against the Jags. That was not the case. McComb scored its lone run in the first inning.
Trailing 7-1 in the second inning, the Tiger defense seemed to find a small heartbeat. McComb pitcher Kamry Creel retired three straight hitters and finished with five strikeouts. But the McComb offense could not string any hits together to keep the game close.
With the win, North Pike improved to 12-5 overall. The Jags resume District 7-4A play Tuesday night on the road against Lawrence County.
With the loss, McComb dropped to 11-6 overall.
The Tigers look to bounce back as they visit Pearl on Tuesday, then welcome Brookhaven on Thursday in a pair of Region 5-5A games. The Tigers host Loyd Star on Friday.
“Once again, we got off to another slow start,” Hall said. “We made some miscues at the beginning of the game and could never recover. Wells also pitched a good game against us.”
North Pike scored three runs in the first inning, four runs in the second, two in the sixth and closed it out with four runs in the seventh.
“I think the difference in tonight’s game was defense,” Hall said. “Our defense just laid down at times tonight.”
The Jags were successful on seven bunts in the game.
“We have been practicing really hard all week on getting our bunts down better,” Wallace said. “It just worked well for us tonight and kept a lot of pressure on their defense.”
Hall agreed North Pike’s bunting made a difference.
“We just didn’t execute the bunt well at all tonight,” Hall said. “We have got to get better.”
Leading 10-1 in the sixth inning, the Jaguars continued to roll. Flex player Jordan Fitzgerald tripled over the head of the right fielder. Danaraye Parks reached first base on an error, which brought Fitzgerald around to score. Sarah Brock singled back up the middle. Parks and Brock scored on a single by Rickera Martin.
In the bottom of the seventh, Creel singled, but was thrown out attempting to reach second base. Wells then recorded consecutive strikeouts of Katie Kalusche and Kimora Wells to end the game.
For McComb offensively, Destini Brown singled twice, while Kaylin Coney and Breann Talbert both were credited with singles.
For North Pike, Sarah Brock singled twice and Fitzgerald tripled. Savannah Johnston, McKenzie Brock, Jana McEwen and Breanna McKenzie all singled.
