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Box Score 2 MERIDIAN, Miss. - The Coastal Alabama - South Softball team, led by 13th-year head coach Mallory Radwitch, opened the 2026 campaign in a convincing way on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 4, sweeping Meridian Community College (Miss.) in a doubleheader. The Coyotes recorded two run-rule victories against Meridian, outscoring the Eagles 30-8 in the process.
The strong start opens the year at 2-0 for the 'Yotes heading into a busy weekend of tournament play.
Game One: Coastal Alabama - South 14, Meridian CC 1 (5 Innings)
The first inning of the 2026 season could not have gone better for Coastal - South as the Coyotes pushed across 11 first-inning runs to begin Wednesday's action. The 11-run first was highlighted by an inside-the-park grand slam by freshman and leadoff batter Lexi Hawthorne, along with a pair of hits by sophomore Sydni Carpenter. Carpenter eventually ended game one 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs, adding a walk and scoring four runs. For Hawthorne, the Milton, Fla. native's first collegiate home run comes in grand fashion.Â
Sophomore Charlotte Lottinger also had a nice first game at the plate, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs, while also recording two hit-by-pitches. Freshman Brooke Cooper picked up her first collegiate hit and a pair of RBIs in the blowout, while Madison Griffith and Emma Olive each drove in a run as well. Overall, Coastal - South out-hit the Eagles 13-3, with nine Coyotes tallying at least one hit in the victory.
From the pitcher's circle, freshman Jacey Reed was awarded the start and tossed two innings before turning the rubber over to fellow freshman Anna Robin who closed out the five-inning game. Reed allowed one run off two hits, while issuing two walks, and Robin allowed no runs and just one hit over the final three innings, walking two.Â
Game Two: Coastal Alabama - South 16, Meridian CC 7 (6 Innings)
In the nightcap, the Coyotes' offense continued to roll, pushing across 12 runs through the first three innings. Meridian managed three runs in the early stages of game two, but trailed 12-3 entering the middle innings.Â
Needing at least two runs to avoid a run-rule victory, Meridian scratched off four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and kept the game alive. The Eagles took advantage of defensive miscues on Coastal - South's side in the frame, keeping the Eagles hopes small but alive. However, the 'Yotes produced a four-run inning of their own next half inning, eventually sealing the game in the sixth inning with the nine-run win.Â
Sydni Carpenter continued her strong start to the season, adding four more hits and driving in four in game two to finish her day 7-for-8 at the plate with seven RBIs. Carpenter will have a great chance at the upcoming ACCC D-I Softball Player of the Week honor, set to be released next Wednesday.Â
Charlotte Lottinger picked up two more hits and two more RBIs, recording her first triple of the season, and Brooke Cooper finished 1-for-2 with a pair of runs driven in. Sophomore Breleigh Corley and Emma Olive joined Lottinger and Cooper with two RBIs each in the second lopsided win of the day. Corley finished 3-for-3 at the dish and made several great grabs in center field throughout the afternoon.Â
Overall, Coastal - South tallied 18 hits as a team, with 11 'Yotes getting into the hit column. On the rubber, sophomore Sam Daniels was awarded the start, finishing with 3 2/3 innings of work, allowing two earned runs and six walks, while allowing four hits. She struck out two.Â
PCB Bound
The Coyotes are off to Panama City Beach, Fla. for a long weekend of softball, playing four non-conference games across Feb. 6-7. Coastal - South opens this weekend's tournament against Itawamba Community College (Miss.) at 12:00 p.m. CT, following that with a 2:30 p.m. CT game against Pearl River Community College (Miss.).
The following day, the 'Yotes will face off with Daytona State (Fla.) and Tallahassee CC (Fla.).
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FOLLOW THE YOTES
For coverage of Coastal Alabama South Athletics, follow the Coyotes on social media at /CoastalAlabamaSouth (Facebook), @CoastalAL_south (Twitter), and @coastalal_south (Instagram), or visit the official home of the Coastal Alabama South Athletic Department at https://coastalcoyotessouth.com/index.aspx
