BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Rylie Smith delivered the knockout blow with a three-run home run in the fifth inning, and the College of Coastal Georgia softball team held on for an 8-4 victory over Brewton-Parker College in the nightcap on Wednesday afternoon, completing the home doubleheader sweep and pushing the Mariners' record to a perfect 10-0 on the season.
McKenzie Collins set the tone early in the circle, delivering a dominant three-inning stretch to open the game that saw her retire all nine batters she faced while striking out four on just 39 pitches. The sophomore right-hander was sharp and composed, and her efficient start gave the Mariner offense plenty of time to build a comfortable cushion. Emilia Clemons followed with two innings of her own, striking out two before Brooke Perdue and Kate Owens finished out the game. Owens ran into trouble in the seventh, allowing three runs — two earned — on a T. Wright triple and a costly error, but the damage was not enough to threaten the outcome. Collins earns her first win of the season with the performance.
Offensively, CCGA wasted little time, plating a run in the first when Rily Andrews singled home Kaitlyn Carolino, who had worked a walk and stolen second to manufacture the early advantage. The Mariners then blew the game open in the third inning with a four-run outburst that featured an RBI double from Mackenzie Southerland, an RBI single from Julianna Batts, and a two-run double from Smith that made it 5-0 and chased any lingering doubt about the outcome.
Smith's big inning wasn't done, however. After Brewton-Parker clawed back to make it 5-1 in the fourth, CCGA responded emphatically in the fifth. Southerland singled and Perdue doubled to set the table, and Smith stepped up and launched a three-run home run — her first of the season — to push the lead to 8-1 and effectively end the contest. The sophomore finished an exceptional afternoon going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run, and four RBI, easily the standout individual performance of the game.
Southerland continued her torrid stretch at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for the second time on the day across the doubleheader. Rylee Mills was equally productive in her designated hitter role, finishing 3-for-3 with a double, while Andrews added an RBI and a run scored. Carolino and Batts each contributed stolen bases to keep the Mariner offense aggressive and unpredictable throughout the afternoon.
With the sweep of Brewton-Parker, Coastal Georgia now stands at 10-0 and has won games in a variety of ways — overpowering opponents offensively, grinding out pitching duels, and rallying late when needed. The Mariners are emerging as a genuinely well-rounded program, and with conference play on the horizon, the perfect start has them positioned well heading into the meat of their schedule.
