By By Jeff Byrd/The Meridian Star
Oct. 3, 2001
The Meridian Lady Wildcats seemed to have their bats in order. Now if the defense can come around, another trip to the State 5A Tournament could be in store.
Meridian overcame five errors in the field and a five-run deficit to beat Pearl 10-7 in slow-pitch softball action on Tuesday night at Sammie Davidson Field.
The win moves Meridian to 19-9 on the season. They have a big game at home on Thursday when they host sixth ranked Northeast Lauderdale.
Lady Wildcat Head Coach Thad George stressed to his team that its defense must improve.
Meridian didn't look like a playoff team in the middle innings as an early 2-0 lead evaporated behind seven Pearl hits and four Meridian errors. A two-run hit by Kelly Garrett and one-run single by Stephanie Russell handed the Lady Pirates a 7-2 lead.
The come-back began in the bottom of the fifth when Valarie Sherman cranked a double with one out. Two batters later, Erin Murphy singled in Sherman to make it 7-3.
Stephanie Mosley then followed by ripping a ball over the head of the Pearl right-fielder. The speedy Mosley circled the bases for an inside the the park home run cutting the deficit to 7-5.
In the bottom of the sixth, Meridian sent 11 batters to the plate. Andra Daniels, Laura Bowles and Carcena Blanks all reached on hits. Blanks' hit knocked in Bowles to tie the game at 7-7.
Following a fly-out, Sherman lofted a soft single into center to score Blanks with the goahead run. Meridian added two insurance runs when Erin Murphy singled in Sherman while Eron Hodgins knocked in Raven Williams on a fly-out to center.
Pearl could only get one runner on in the seventh, that coming after the Lady Wildcats' fifth error. Hodgins, Meridian's shortstop, bounced back catching a pop up to end the game.
Both teams had 15 hits. Sherman led Meridian going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs. She had a two-run single in the second to stake Meridian to a 2-0 lead.
Murphy and Mosley each went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Hodgins, Daniels and Bowles all had two hits while Blanks scored twice.
Pearl was led by Tiffany Rosenbaum who went 3-for-4. Kelly Garrett drove in two off two hits. Andrea Nelson, Brittany Stephens and Miranda Jackson all had two hits.
Jeff Byrd is a sports writer for the Meridian Star. He can be reached at 693-1551 or by e-mail at j.byrd@themeridianstar.com.