February 20, 2022
It just was not the Warriors' weekend at the Rush Invitational as the team dropped their first two contests of the year, an 18-6 decision to Wallace State Hanceville and a 2-0 loss to Southeastern Iowa on Saturday, February 19. The losses drop the Warriors to 6-2 on the year. East Central hosted eight additional games over the weekend with other contests featuring Mississippi Gulf Coast, Jones College, Pearl River, and Lincoln Trail.
Game One vs Wallace State | L, 18-6
The Warriors had a big frame in the bottom of the second as they hit back on a Wallace State solo homer that led off the top of the frame. A two-run homer from Conner Hicks (Stringer) gave ECCC the lead, and a ground-out RBI from Trey Lewis (Silas, Ala.) added another. Another run came across on an error and the Warriors led 4-1 going into the third.
Lewis hammered in another two runs in the fourth with a triple to push the ECCC lead to 6-1.
The Lions turned things around in the top of the sixth with a seven-run inning after Hanceville capitalized on a pair of errors and some hit by pitches. The big inning put the Lions on top, 8-6.
Back-to-back solo homers to start the seventh grew the Lion lead to 10-6 and essentially pulled the game out of reach for the Warriors. Hanceville went on to plate three in the eighth and five in the ninth.
Ervin Simmons (Greenville) took the loss on the mound for ECCC as he allowed four hits and five runs over one and two-thirds innings, striking out three, and walking zero. Grant Edwards (Walker) started the game went five innings, allowing five runs on three hits, striking out five, and walking zero.
Cole Wilkerson (Collinsville), Miles Miller (Toomsuba), Brendon Minor (Madison), Cade Hall (Philadelphia), and Dagan Martin (Philadelphia) all saw action on the mound.
ECCC racked up 11 hits in the contest with Hicks, Clayton Cook (Mize), and Lewis all posting multiple hits. Wallace State had 10 hits in the game.
Game Two vs Southeastern Iowa | L, 2-0
The bats just were not hot for ECCC in the nightcap as the Warriors managed four hits in the game.
A solo homer from the Blackhawks in the second inning was the first score of the night. A passed ball in the top of the fourth was the only other score of the contest.
Pitching shined for both teams as the Blackhawks fanned 14 batters while ECCC struck out eight.
David Burton (Decatur) took the loss on the bump. He went three and a third innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out five.
J.T. Vance (Union) led the Warriors at the plate with two hits.
Up Next
The Warriors are on the road on Tuesday, February 22, as ECCC travels to Bevill State in Fayette, Ala. for games at 12 and 3 p.m., before returning to Decatur for a round-robin with Lake Land College and Baton Rouge on Saturday, February 26.
