February 17, 2022
The No. 14 East Central Community College baseball team earned a hard-fought, non-conference sweep over Nunez Community College on Wednesday, February 16, to remain undefeated at 6-0 on the young season. Nunez, a DI junior college, entered the game with a 9-1 record overall but left the Clark/Gay Baseball Complex at 9-3. ECCC dominated at the plate as they scored multiple runs in nine of the 12 innings they went to the plate through the two contests.
Game One | W, 19-7 (6 innings)
Sparks were flying early in game one as the Nunez Pelicans leaped out in front with a five-run frame. The runs came on a fielder's choice, RBI single, and a three-run homer to left.
The Warriors were right back in the game in the bottom half of the inning as the ECCC offense stepped to the plate with some swagger. A fielder's choice off the bat of Eli Collins(Laurel) plated the Warriors' first run before Coleton Smith (Gulfport) knocked in the next two with an RBI single. Austin Green (Pearl) followed suit and ripped an RBI single as well to plate Smith, cutting the Pelicans lead to just one, 5-4, going into the second inning.
Miles Miller (Toomsuba) checked in to pitch for the Warriors and fanned the side in the second, but the Warriors were unable to get any runs in the bottom half.
In the third, the Warriors fired off a two-out rally that saw a pair of RBI singles from Leighton Jenkins (Collinsville) and Clayton Cook (Mize). The two hits drove in three runs and gave the Warriors a 7-5 lead going into the fourth.
The Pelicans chipped back in the top of the fourth with an RBI double down the left-field line, but that was all the damage done.
Austin Lee (Madison) got in on the RBI action in the bottom half with a towering two-run, stand-up triple that hit off the top of the fence in right. The shot put ECCC on top, 9-6. The rain began to fall in Decatur in the fourth and three straight walks added another for ECCC growing the lead to 10-6.
A passed ball and a pair of RBI singles from Jenkins and Cook pushed ECCC's advantage to 14-6. The Pelicans got one run back in the sixth, but a J.T. Vance (Union) RBI double and an error plated two. Jenkins followed with a towering three-run homer that run-ruled the Pelicans in the bottom of the sixth, 19-7.
Cole Wilkerson (Collinsville) got the win for ECCC on the mound. He surrendered two runs on four hits over three innings, striking out three and walking one. Miller threw two and a third inning in relief, striking out five and not surrendering a hit. Brendon Minor (Madison) got the start for the Warriors.
Jenkins led the way at the dish with six RBIs on four hits, while Cook, Collins, and Vance all posted multiple hits. Cook drove in four runs in the win.
Game Two | W, 11-7
Game two had another hot start as the Pelicans plated two runs on two pitches. A single and two-run homer put Nunez on top 2-0.
ECCC was not deterred as Cook led things off with a single. Back-to-back doubles from Collins and Vance gave ECCC a 3-2 lead. Vance scored on a passed ball later in the frame to make it 4-2.
Nunez scored on a groundout in the second, but a sac fly from Lee and an RBI single from Kade Turnage (Picayune) gave the Warriors a 7-3 advantage going into the third.
A pair of walks put runners on base for Jalen Ayers (Waynesboro) in the bottom of the fourth. Ayers roped a line drive off the wall to plate both runs and give the Warriors a 9-3 lead.
Jacob Castle (Quitman) kept the hot bats rolling for ECCC in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff single. Trey Lewis (Silas, Ala.) quickly brought him home with a stand-up double. Collins immediately plated Lewis with an RBI single making it 11-3.
The Pelicans got three runs in the top of the sixth and one in the seventh, but it was too-little-too-late as the Warriors hung on for an 11-7 win.
Mason Willis (Collinsville) was the winning pitcher for the Warriors. The righty allowed three hits and three runs over four and a third innings, striking out four. A number of pitchers entered the game as relief, with Dagan Martin (Philadelphia), Henry Thornton (Union), Ervin Simmons (Greenville), and Luke Odom (Hattiesburg) all securing outs.
Up Next
The Warriors play host to Wallace State Hanceville and Southeastern Illinois on Saturday, February 19, at 12 and 6 p.m. during the Rush Invitational at the Clark/Gay Baseball Complex. ECCC will host three games on Friday, an additional game to theirs on Saturday, and two games on Sunday in the event.
