SPARTANBURG, S.C. — One day after ending a 34-game winning streak, No. 5 Pearl River softball did it again Friday, snapping No. 1 Kirkwood's 37-game winning streak with an 11-5 victory to punch its ticket to the NJCAA Division II World Series semifinals.
"These girls are resilient. That's the word," head coach Christie Meeks said. "It's an emotional game with emotional moments. How cool is it that we show up here for the first time ever and this is where we are? They are just grinding and gritting it out. They didn't care about who was on the other side of the field."
The Wildcats will play in the national semifinals Saturday at 1 p.m. ET (Noon CT) against the winner of No. 2 Murray State and No. 3 Copiah-Lincoln. Weather will be monitored and an announcement will be made.
Pearl River (46-7 overall) and Kirkwood (60-6) traded punches through the opening three innings. Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Central) got the Wildcats started with her second home run of the tournament, a two-run blast that gave PRCC an early 2-0 lead. Kirkwood answered immediately with a two-run double to even the score.
The Wildcats went back to the long ball in the second inning. Teegan DeWitt (Pass Christian; Hancock) battled through a six-pitch at-bat before launching the seventh pitch over the wall for a solo home run. Two pitches later, Taylor Foster (Petal) followed with a homer of her own, pulling an inside pitch over the left-field wall to make it 4-2.
Kirkwood responded again in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game at 4-4 with one swing before taking a 5-4 lead an inning later. After the Eagles moved in front, PRCC turned to Ana-Grace Garcia (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's) out of the bullpen — and the McNeese State signee took over the game.
Garcia held Kirkwood hitless over the final 4 1/3 innings, allowing just two walks while striking out five.
When the fifth inning arrived, the Wildcats answered once more. Shania Fondren (Batesville; South Panola) slipped an RBI infield single between third base and shortstop to tie the game. Moments later, Jaycee Holifield (Laurel; Stringer) delivered again in a clutch moment, driving a ball off the wall in left-center field for a two-run double that put PRCC back in front, 7-5.
Pearl River broke the game open in the seventh. With the bases loaded, DeWitt ripped a two-run single down the left-field line to extend the lead to 9-5. The Wildcats continued to pressure the Eagles, forcing a throwing error that brought home another run. Before the inning ended, Emmaleigh Theriot (Prairieville, La.; St. Amant) executed a rundown perfectly, allowing DeWitt to swipe home plate and stretch the advantage to 11-5.
Garcia closed the door in dominant fashion, striking out the first two batters of the seventh inning on 10 pitches before inducing a game-ending groundout to third base, sending Pearl River to the national semifinals in its first-ever World Series appearance.
PRCC finished with 15 hits as Kai Goodman (New Orleans, La.; John Curtis), Addy Grace Alexander (Poplarville), Eaves, Holifield, Maeli Ben (Conehatta; Newton County), DeWitt and Foster each collected two hits. DeWitt drove in three runs, while Holifield added two RBIs. Eaves, DeWitt and Foster each homered.
Ann Elise Duncan (McComb; Brookhaven Academy) earned the start, allowing five runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four. Garcia was dominant in relief, tossing 4 1/3 hitless innings while allowing just two walks and striking out five.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $15 per day and tournament passes are $50. Children 12 & under will be admitted for FREE.
TUNE IN
The entire 2026 NJCAA Division II Softball World Series will be streamed live on the NJCAA Network. A day pass costs $12, a tournament pass is available for $35 and an all-access pass costs $100.
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