Pirates Pick Up Thrilling Extra Inning Win

The Pensacola State College Pirates traveled to Gulf Coast on Saturday for a crucial doubleheader. The first game was a nail-biter, requiring extra innings to determine the winner. Pensacola emerged victorious, thanks to a stellar performance from Karri Pritchard, who hit a solo home run in the third inning and added two more runs with another homer in the fifth. Gulf Coast managed to score one run in the bottom of the fifth, making it 3-1.

PSC added a key insurance run in the seventh when Gabbie York drove in Keira Trim. However, the Commodores fought back with two home runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game. Relief pitcher Kylie Jarman entered the game and, with two runners on base, got a crucial flyout to end the threat.

In the ninth inning, PSC capitalized on back-to-back sacrifice bunts that were misplayed, scoring one run. Gabbie York then drove in another run, giving the Pirates a 6-4 lead. Gulf Coast had a runner on second with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but the Pirates executed a nifty 9-2-1 play to get the runner out at the plate. Jarman then struck out the last batter to secure the win. York was impressive, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs, while Pritchard was 2-for-3 with two home runs, three RBIs, a walk, and a hit by pitch. Trim and Abbie Morris both went 2-for-4. Jarman earned the win in relief, throwing 2.1 innings and striking out two.

In the second game, Pensacola scored two runs in the first inning, but Gulf Coast responded with four runs in the second. PSC tied the game in the fourth with a double steal that allowed Abbie Morris to score after the throw to second kicked into the outfield. They briefly took the lead in the fifth when Katelyn Morgan doubled and scored on Anna Reily's single up the middle. However, Gulf Coast took control in the bottom of the fifth with a bases-clearing triple, ultimately winning the game 9-5.

Pensacola has a bye on Wednesday and will start the final round of single games on Saturday at Chipola College.