East Central Community College’s baseball squad proved it is worthy of national recognition after managing a doubleheader split with top-rated Louisiana State University-Eunice Saturday on the Bengal campus.

The Diamond Warriors, after being edged 5-4 in the first game, rallied for a 5-3 decision in the nightcap and improved to 11-3 overall under fourth-year head coach Neal Holliman. LSU-Eunice, which sits atop the NJCAA Division II poll, dropped to 12-2.

In the first game, EC had an early 2-0 lead but the Diamond Bengals rallied to grab a 4-2 advantage after three innings. The Diamond Warriors scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the contest at 4-4, only to have the home team score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Richie Long of Carthage homered for EC and Blake Lawson of Biloxi belted two singles to lead the offense. Singles each were collected by Andre Yates of Grenada, Vincent Kortbawi, a product of Hale County High School in Moundville, Ala., and Charles Hill and Quin Stokes, both of Carthage.  

Southpaw Willard Bacon of Choctaw Central took the loss, allowing one run on two hits in the final 1 2/3 innings.  

In the nightcap, Donnie Tabb of Neshoba Central slapped a double and two singles and had two RBIs to lead the Diamond Warriors, who rallied from a 3-0 deficit to earn the split.

Lawson homered and was also credited with two RBIs. Other sluggers were Yates, Ernie Triplett of Louisville and Ricardo Velez of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, who had singles each. 

Tabb was also the winning pitcher, as he hurled four scoreless innings and allowed three hits. He fanned three batters and walked one. Starter Allen Johnson of Leake Academy went five innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He fanned four batters and walked four.

The Diamond Warriors travel to Itawamba Community College Friday in doubleheader action beginning at 2:30 p.m. on the Fulton campus.

EC hosts Kishwaukee at 2:30 p.m. Monday, March 8 in a seven-inning battle to be followed by a nine-inning contest with Tyler (Texas) Community College.