A rare doubleheader loss for the East Central Community College baseball team Tuesday has dropped the Diamond Warriors from the top of the MACJC South Division standings.

Copiah- Lincoln Community College took the twin bill, winning the opener 8-3 and capturing the nightcap by a 10-7 margin in extra innings. The division battles were held at the Clark/Gay Baseball Complex in Decatur.

The Diamond Warriors are now 14-8 in league play and tied for second with Hinds. Jones County – EC’s opponent Saturday in the regular season finale – leads the division at 15-7. Gulf Coast is 11-11, followed by Pearl River (12-12), Southwest (7-15) and Copiah-Lincoln (5-17).  

East Central’s overall record stands at 33-12 prior to today’s (Wednesday) non-division contest with visiting Meridian Community College. The nine-inning matchup begins at 5 p.m.

In the first game with Co-Lin, the visitors extended a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning by scoring four runs in the sixth inning and holding on for the victory.

Ernie Triplett of Louisville led the EC offensive with two singles. Andre Yates of Grenada belted a double, and singles each were recorded by Donnie Tabb of Neshoba Central and Jerrod Myers of Jackson St. Andrews.

Starter Pervis Mann took the loss. Mann, a southpaw from Carthage, allowed four runs on five hits through 4 1/3 innings. He also fanned five batters and walked three.

In the second game, the Diamond Warriors jumped out to an early 3-0 lead but the Wolves responded with five runs in the third and held a 7-3 advantage until EC rallied for four runs in the sixth to notch the score at 7-7. Co-Lin took the lead for good by tallying three runs in the eighth inning and holding on for the win.

Tabb led the EC offense with a double and single. Contributing singles each were Yates, Triplett, Darmaal Moore of Stone County, Vincent Kortbawi, a product of Hale County High School in Moundville, Ala., and Quin Stokes and Richie Long, both of Carthage.

Yates led in RBIs with two, and Tabb, Moore and Long knocked in a run a piece.

Right-hander Allen Johnson took the loss. Johnson, a Leake Academy product, went seven innings, allowing six earned runs on 11 hits. He also fanned five batters and walked one. Tabb hurled the eighth inning and allowed two earned runs on one hit. He fanned a batter and walked one.

The Diamond Warriors wrap up regular season action with two seven-inning contests with Jones County beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 1 at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson.

First-round playoffs are scheduled May 7-8.

The MACJC State Tournament will be held May 13-15 and hosted by the North Division winner.

The Region 23 Tournament is scheduled May 20-22 and will be hosted by the top South Division squad.

The Diamond Warriors are led by head coach Neal Holliman and assistants Michael Avalon and Hunter Vick.