PERKINSTON – Behind a pair of complete game performances from Nora Keehn and Kaitlin Lee, the 3rd-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast Lady Bulldogs swept a home doubleheader over Northwest on Sunday by 4-1 and 6-1 finals.
MGCCC improved to 31-3 overall and 15-3 in MACJC play while Northwest fell to 14-12 and 8-10 in conference action.
(Game 1) Ashton Needham shutout the Lady Bulldogs the first three frames but ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded and one down, Brittany Cooley doubled to center to score a pair and Kaitlin Lee stole home to make it 3-0.
Leeah Henson tossed a scoreless fifth inning before MGCCC plated one off reliever
Avery McCullough in the sixth.
Northwest's lone run came in its final at-bat.
Kailey Walker led off the seventh with a single, stole second and then was driven home by
Erin Claire Stegall on an RBI-single to left.
Keehn (10-1) went the distance in the circle for MGCCC, scattering five hits, one run, seven strikeouts and no walks.
Walker and Stegall combined to go 4-for-6 at the plate but the rest of the team was just 1-for-16.
(Game 2) Kaitlin Lee tossed a complete game, five-hitter and was also 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot to pace the Lady Bulldogs to a 6-1 win and doubleheader sweep.
MGCCC scored the game's first six runs, including single runs in the first and fourth innings and two in the third and fifth.
Northwest finally got on the board in the sixth, using McCullough's leadoff single to get the rally started. Walker followed with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a fielder's choice and then came around to score off a throwing error at home when the catcher dropped the throw home on
Heath Griffith's fly out.
Sallie Rose Carver had two of the Rangers' five hits in the finale.
Northwest will return home on Tuesday, playing host to rival Northeast at 1 p.m.