BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Back on their home field, the College of Coastal Georgia softball team made quick work of Brewton-Parker College on Wednesday afternoon, rolling to an 8-0 mercy-rule victory in six innings to improve to 9-0 on the season. Rylee Mills continued her flawless start on the mound while Mackenzie Southerland stole the offensive show.
Mills was as efficient as she has been all season, spinning a complete six-inning shutout on just five hits without issuing a single walk. The junior right-hander struck out one and needed a remarkably lean 64 pitches to dispatch the Baron lineup from start to finish. Brewton-Parker never managed to string together consecutive baserunners in any meaningful way, and Mills was in complete control throughout, working quickly and generating a steady stream of weak contact. She improves to 4-0 on the year, and through nine games, the Mariners' ace has given this team exactly what it needs every time she takes the circle.
Southerland was the unquestioned star at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. She wasted no time making her presence felt, contributing to the second-inning rally before delivering the signature moment of the game in the third — a two-run home run that scored Rily Andrews and pushed the Mariner lead to 5-0, effectively ending any hope Brewton-Parker had of mounting a comeback. Southerland added yet another RBI single in the sixth inning to cap a commanding afternoon that demonstrated why she has become one of the most dangerous hitters in this lineup.
Kaitlyn Carolino was relentless at the top of the order from the opening pitch, going 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, and two runs scored. She set the tone in the first inning by doubling and eventually scoring on a Rylee Mills groundout to give CCGA an early lead it would never relinquish. Andrews had another productive afternoon, going 2-for-4 and scoring once, while Mills chipped in two RBI from her spot in the lineup to further illustrate her two-way value to this roster. Emma Jones delivered two hits and two RBI as well, including a clutch single in the fourth inning that extended the advantage to 6-0 and chased the Brewton-Parker starter. Brooke Perdue and Avery Callaway each reached base and scored, and even Rylie Smith and McKenzie Collins contributed productive at-bats that kept the pressure on the Baron pitching staff throughout the afternoon.
CCGA scored in four of the six innings played and produced 16 hits as a team — a season-high offensive output that featured contributions up and down the entire lineup. The game was called after six frames by the mercy rule, a fitting end to a performance that was dominant in every facet. With the convincing home victory, the Mariners sit at a perfect 9-0 and continue to look like one of the most complete teams in the region as conference play draws closer.
