East Central Community College’s baseball team grabbed a pair of victories from Copiah Lincoln Community College Friday afternoon in Wesson, rallying from an early 3-0 deficit to claim a 12-7 decision in the opener, then cruised 13-1 in the second contest to complete the sweep.

With the wins, the Diamond Warriors improved to 24-8 overall and 6-4 in the MACJC South Division. East Central is currently tied for second in the South with the Jones County Junior College Bobcats who come to campus Wednesday. Doubleheader action begins at 2 p.m. at the Clark/Gay Baseball Complex.

In the first win over Co-Lin, Richie Long of Carthage and Andre Yates of Grenada each homered and singled, and Donnie Tabb of Neshoba Central contributed four singles to lead the EC offense. Long also led in RBIs with four and Tabb knocked in a couple of runs. Yates also collected an RBI.

Also having productive outings at the plate were Vincent Kortbawi, a product of Hale County High School in Moundville, Ala., two doubles and three RBIs; Charles Hill of Carthage, double and single; Ernie Triplett of Louisville, two singles; and Blake Lawson of Biloxi, single. Hill and Triplett also collected an RBI each.    

Right-hander Cal Cossich of Ocean Springs got the win, as he hurled 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief and allowed just one hit. He also fanned six batters and walked one. Starter Barry Meeks, a product of Patrician Academy of Sweetwater, Ala., pitch 2/3 inning and allowed two runs on four hits. Willard Bacon of Choctaw Central hurled three innings, allowing five runs on five hits. He also fanned a batter and walked one.

In the second game, Long slammed two home runs and collected four RBIs, Hill belted a home run and single and had three RBIs, and Tabb contributed a dinger and two RBIs to lead EC sluggers. Other hitters were Kortbawi, double and single; Triplett and Yates, doubles each; and Lawson and Quin Stokes of Carthage, singles each. Designated hitter Ricardo Velez of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, had two RBIs, and single runs were knocked in by Kortbawi and Triplett.

Right-hander Allen Johnson of Lena was the winning pitcher. Johnson, a product of Leake Academy, pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief and allowed just one hit. He also fanned a batter. Starter Colton Mitchell of Lake went 2 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits. The southpaw also fanned two batters and walked one. Lefty Austin Buchanan of Neshoba Central hurled a scoreless final inning and did not allow a hit.

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