Grinstead Earns Win No. 100 as Eagles Sweep Holmes in Dramatic Fashion

MERIDIAN, Miss. — Meridian Community College softball celebrated a milestone Saturday at Tommy McDonald Field, sweeping Holmes Community College and delivering Head Coach Brad Grinstead his 100th career victory.

The Eagles took game one in run-rule fashion 13-5 before closing out the day with a thrilling 5-4 extra-inning win in game two, improving to 25-20 overall and 11-9 in MACCC play as they continue their push toward postseason contention.

Game One – Eagles Explode Late

Meridian struck first in the opening inning on a sacrifice fly from Mollie Mitchell, but Holmes answered in the second to tie the game at 1-1.

The Eagles regained the lead in the bottom of the second, but Holmes surged ahead in the fourth with three runs to take a 5-2 advantage.

Mitchell quickly erased the deficit in the fifth, launching a three-run home run to tie the game at 5-5.

From there, Meridian took complete control.

The Eagles erupted for eight runs in the sixth inning, capping an 11-run stretch to secure the 13-5 run-rule victory. The inning was highlighted by an RBI triple from Delaney Perry.

Meridian finished with six hits and nine RBIs in the opener.

Willa Simmons started in the circle, pitching four innings and allowing five runs on five hits. Hannah Capello earned the win in relief, tossing two scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out one.

Game Two – Eagles Rally Late, Walk It Off in Extras

Game two turned into a marathon battle, with both teams locked in a scoreless duel through four innings.

Holmes broke through in the fifth with two runs to take a 2-0 lead. Meridian answered in the sixth with a solo home run from Mitchell, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

The Lady Bulldogs added two more runs in the seventh, extending their lead to 4-1 and putting the Eagles on the brink.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Meridian mounted a dramatic comeback.

Hannah Buckley sparked the rally with a solo home run — her first of the season — to make it 4-2. After a walk by pinch hitter Jaylin Jones, another pinch hitter, Camry Johnson, delivered in a big moment with a game-tying two-run home run, evening the score at 4-4.

Both teams traded scoreless innings in the eighth, ninth, and tenth before Meridian finally broke through in the 11th.

Perry delivered the game-winner with a sacrifice fly, driving in Isabella White to secure the 5-4 walk-off victory.

In the circle, White started and pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Chelsea Regan followed with four innings in relief, giving up two runs on three hits. Hannah Capello closed the door, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings to help seal the win.

Following the final out, the Eagles celebrated at midfield before dousing Coach Brad Grinstead with a water bath in recognition of his 100th career victory.

Grinstead reflected on the milestone and his team's performance.

"This group didn't make it easy on us, but they found a way," Grinstead said. "I'm proud of how we competed and stuck together to get two big wins at home."

With back-to-back conference sweeps, Meridian has positioned itself firmly in the hunt for a postseason berth.

The Eagles will hit the road Wednesday to face No. 6 Jones College in Ellisville as they continue conference play. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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