April 25, 2018
No. 17 ranked East Central Community College held early leads in both games but could not keep them as the Meridian Community College Eagles swept an MACJC baseball doubleheader Tuesday, April 24, at Clark-Gay Baseball Complex in Decatur.
East Central lost the first game 8-5 after leading 3-0 early and 5-4 heading to the top of the ninth inning. The Warriors scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning of the nightcap, but failed to score the rest of the way as Meridian won 8-3.
With the losses, East Central is now 27-13 overall on the season and 16-8 in the league. The Meridian Eagles are 31-9 overall and 18-6 in MACJC play.
East Central held a 3-0 lead through four innings of the opener. The runs came on RBI singles from freshman Ken Scott of Clarkdale and Jacob Edwards of Newton County, and a solo home run from freshman Ryan Cupit out of West Monroe, La.
With the Warriors leading 3-1 heading to the sixth inning, the Eagles tied the game 3-3. East Central immediately regained the lead in the bottom of the frame on a home run from freshman Will Ross of Hernando and an RBI single from freshman Deon Leflore out of Leake Central.
East Central took a 5-4 lead to the top of the ninth before Meridian plated four runs on just two hits to get the 8-5 lead and the win.
Cupit and Davis Lott of Lewisburg each had a pair of hits to lead the Warriors in the first game. Kolby Crowley of East Webster took the loss on the mound in relief.
The Warriors quickly took a 3-0 lead after one inning in game two thanks to Lott’s three-run homer. After that, it was all Meridian as the Eagles scored four in the second and two each in the sixth and seventh innings for the 8-3 win. East Central managed just two hits after the first inning.
Brooks Warren out of French Camp Academy started for East Central and was credited with the loss.
The Warriors will host Elaine P. Nunez Community College (Chalmette, La.) at the Clark-Gay Baseball Complex in Decatur on Saturday, April 28, for games at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
East Central will then travel to Perkinston on Wednesday, May 2, to face Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and before closing out the regular season on Saturday, May 5, at home against Northwest Mississippi Community College at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Most home baseball games can be heard on WKOZ Cruisin 98.3 or via audio stream and live stream video at www.eccc.edu/eccc-media.
