SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

April 12, 2024

Prep Softball: League-leading D’Iberville retains top spot in Region 4-7A with close win over Gulfport

D’Iberville’s Addison Mosley tosses the ball to a teammate Thursday night vs. Gulfport in Region 4-7A play. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — The league-leading D’Iberville Lady Warriors picked up a key Region 4-7A road win Tuesday night.
The Lady Warriors scored a run in the sixth stanza and in the process slipped past home-standing Gulfport 4-3 in exciting fashion to retain their spot atop the region race.
Olivia Drieling provided the key blow for D’Iberville with an RBI-double in the sixth that plated Piper Rushing to break a 3-3 tie. Rushing had reached base on a fielder’s choice prior to Drieling’s timely hit.

D’Iberville infielder Madelyn Porter takes aim on a ground ball Thursday night vs. Gulfport in Region 4-7A play. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Gulfport pitcher Haley Hughes lets loose with a throw Thursday night vs. DHS in Region 4-7A play. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Gulfport outfielder Juliana Espat settles under a fly ball Thursday night vs. DHS in Region 4-7A play. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

It marked the second close win for the Lady Warriors over Gulfport in three weeks after DHS toppled the Lady Warriors 2-0 at home. The Lady Warriors remained perfect in league play at 7-0, while Ocean Springs sits in second in the region race at 5-2 and Gulfport is the third seed currently with a 4-4 mark.
Gulfport looked as if it was out to avenge that earlier loss as it quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first frame. Marliegh Lowe provided the runs with a two-run double.
But Rushing’s two-run single in the top of the fourth frame tied the game up at 2-2, and then D’Iberville took the lead when Drieling followed that with an RBI-single to score Rushing and make it 3-2.
Gulfport bounced back to tie things up in the bottom of the frame as a run scored on an error on a fly ball off of the bat of Nadia Butler setting the stage for the decisive and climactic sixth stanza.

D’Iberville infielder Layla Barnes takes a throw as Gulfport base runner Fairley Hall dives bak into second base Thursday night in Region 4-7A play. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

D’Iberville infielder Madelyn Porter dives to stop a ground ball Thursday night vs. Gulfport in Region 4-7A play. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

D’Iberville batter Olivia Drieling heads toward first base after a hit Thursday night vs. Gulfport in Region 4-7A play. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Drieling had a game-high three hits and two RBIs to lead the Lady Warriors at the plate in the win, while Emma Franklin added two hits and Rushing had her two RBIs.
Franklin went the distance on the mound to pick up the win, allowing six hits while striking out four and walking three.
Gulfport got two hits apiece from Juliana Espat and Caroline Woodward, with one of Woodward’s hits a triple, while Lowe had the two RBIs.
Woodward, one of two Gulfport pitchers, took the loss in relief of Haley Hughes.
Elsewhere, Ocean Springs was slated to face St. Martin as well Thursday night but the game was postponed until next week. Meanwhile, Harrison Central beat Biloxi 5-1 Thursday night to move into the all-important fourth spot in the region race at 3-4.