East Central Community College’s fast-pitch softball team improved to 6-1-1 on the 2010 campaign following participation in the Pearl River Community College Tournament Friday, Feb. 26, in Hattiesburg.

The Lady Warriors, led by seventh-year head coach Scott Hill, began competition by battling Faulkner State to a 4-4 tie in a five-inning matchup, followed by a 12-0 shellacking of East Mississippi in a contest called after four innings.  

In the opener, East Central led 3-1 after three innings but Faulkner State rallied and took a 4-3 lead in the fifth. The Lady Diamond Warriors pushed across the game-tying run in the bottom of the frame.

Hailey Chisolm of Neshoba Central and Taylor Bailey, a product of Bowie High School in Austin, Texas, each doubled and singled to lead the offense. Kasie Buckley of Newton County and Olivia Maher of East Acension High School in Gonzales, La., had singles each. 

Bailey went the distance on the mound, allowing four runs on three hits. She also fanned six batters and walked three.

Against East Mississippi, sophomore Paige Holsen of Union belted a grand slam home run and followed that feat with a three-run shot - both coming in the fourth inning – to lead EC to the easy victory.  She finished with seven RBIs.

Other sluggers in the 13-hit attack included Lauren Nicholas of Neshoba Central, triple and single; Sierra Farlow, also of Neshoba Central, and Hannah Lee of Leake Academy, double and single; Brittany Cochran of Newton County and Hailey Chisolm of Neshoba Central, two singles each; and Buckley, single. 

Buckley was also the winning pitcher in the shut out, allowing six hits. She fanned three batters.

ECCC SWEEPS NORTHWEST

The Lady Diamond Warriors took a pair of contests from Northwest in games played Wednesday, Feb. 24 on the Decatur campus.

EC cruised 13-5 in the opener and held on for a 3-0 decision to complete the sweep.

In the opener, Summer Alexander of Newton County led the offense with a homer and three singles. Chisolm contributed a triple and two singles and Bailey belted two singles. Other hitters were Holsen, double; and Nicholas, Morgan Malone of Madison Central and Maher, singles each.

Bailey got the win on the mound, allowing five runs on seven hits. She fanned three batters and walked two. 

Buckley homered and single to lead EC in the second contest. Also recording multiple hits were Malone, double and single; and Holsen and Farlow, singles each. Credited with singles each were Nicolas, Alexander and Chisolm. 

Buckley went the distance in recording the shut-out victory. She fanned three batters and walked one. 

The Lady Diamond Warriors travel to Senatobia Wednesday for a rematch with the Lady Rangers. Doubleheader action gets under way at 1 p.m.

ECCC hosts East Mississippi Thursday in another rematch beginning at 1 p.m.