Southwest Softball traveled to Meridian on Wednesday, March 18, for a doubleheader against Meridian Community College. The Lady Bears split the series, losing the first game 9-7 and winning the second 8-2, according to team sources.
In game one, Allie Ladnier started on the mound for Southwest. She pitched 4.1 innings with six strikeouts before being replaced by Mary Claire Salley, who finished the game with one strikeout and no hits allowed in 1.2 innings. Southwest led 4-3 after three innings, highlighted by a three-run homer from Alexis Dejean in the first and a double by Kate Clements that scored Jana Phillips.
The Eagles scored six runs in the fifth inning to lead 9-4, but Southwest responded with a three-run inning in the top of the next frame. Tristan Allen’s two-run homer and a double by Corin Talbot contributed to the rally. Despite a late effort, Southwest fell 9-7, with Allen collecting three hits, including a homer and a double, and Dejean adding a homer and three RBIs.
The Lady Bears rebounded in the second game with an 8-2 win, with pitcher Ballard Kraft throwing a complete game. Kraft struck out six and allowed two runs in seven innings. Southwest took an early 4-0 lead, with home runs from Allie Ladnier and Tristan Allen. The team extended its lead with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by a sacrifice fly from Allen and doubles from Clements, Phillips, and Ladnier.
Hitting leader Kate Clements had three hits in the second game, while McLin added one. McLin’s hit in both games broke a 10-year record for consecutive games with a hit, a streak now at 19 games, according to team coaches. Head coach Shea Johnson praised McLin’s all-around play and resilience.
“Bailey is a special kid, and she’s the true definition of a leadoff,” Johnson said. “She swings it, she slaps, she can lay it down and bunt, she can do it all. That record stood for ten years, and I don’t think she’s done setting it.” The Lady Bears, now 17-4 overall and 3-1 in conference play, are scheduled to travel to Goodman on Saturday to face Holmes.
