February 24, 2021
Freshman Austin Lee is congratulated by teammates after hitting a two-run homer in the win over Meridian. (EC Photo)
The ECCC Warriors were excited to capitalize on the nice weather Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 23, with a three-game, round robin series against the Meridian Eagles and No. 4 Northwest Rangers. The Warriors cruised by the Eagles in the opener, before falling in a close one for the nightcap. Merdian won the middle game over Northwest, 6-2, meaning every team left Decatur with a split. The Warriors now take a 3-4 record into conference play beginning Saturday, Feb. 27
Game One vs. Meridian | W, 11-1
The Warriors' bats were on fire Tuesday afternoon as they piled up 11 runs on 10 hits.
The Eagles could not have asked for a better start as the leadoff batter in the top of the first hit a solo homer. However, the Warriors did not let it phase them as they responded with a two-run homer from Kade Turnage (Picayune) in the bottom of the third and did not allow another Eagle runner to cross the plate.
Amani Larry (Bossier City, La.) plated another in the fourth with an RBI single before Ty McCollough (Greenville) drew a bases-loaded walk to add another. A passed ball and a J.T. Vance (Union) RBI single scored two more, making it 6-1 going into the fifth.
Austin Lee (Madison) continued to pile it on the Eagles in the fifth with an early two-run bomb to right field. McCollough added another RBI before a couple of errors allowed the Warriors to "walk off" the run-rule victory.
Roper Ball (Noxapater) was credited with the victory from the mound. Ball lasted four innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out seven. Hayden West (Decatur) threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Lee and Larry led the Warriors with two hits each.
Game Two vs. No. 4 Northwest | L, 6-4
Northwest got the scoring started in the nightcap with three consecutive frames of two-run innings. The consistent plate appearances built up a 6-0 Ranger lead going into the bottom of the fourth.
Jesse Boydstun (Louisville) led off the bottom of the fourth with a hard-hit double and was driven home on an RBI groundout from Conner Hicks (Stringer). Walker Johnson (Mantee) checked in to throw in relief and fanned three straight Ranger batters to keep the momentum going in ECCC's favor.
A triple from Roper Ball (Noxapater) allowed Turnage to pick up an RBI on an infield single to cut the lead to 6-2 going into sixth.
After another quick top-half of the inning, the Warriors were back at the plate. Austin Lee (Madison) led off with an opposite-field, line-drive solo homer to pull the lead to three, 6-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Warriors threatened with an RBI single from Boydstun making it 6-4. Ball followed and was hit by a pitch putting the tying run on the bases, but the two Warriors were left stranded, securing the 6-4 Ranger win.
Ervin Simmons (Greenville) took the loss on the mound for ECCC. Simmons went two innings, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out one. Gates Pee (Clinton), Brian Johnson (Ridgeland), and W. Johnson all threw in relief. W. Johnson led the team with six strikeouts through three innings.
Boydstun and Ball led the Warriors at the dish with mirrored 2-for-4 performances. Turnage, Lee, Boydstun, and Hicks all finished with RBIs.
The Warriors are set to open MACCC play this weekend, Feb. 27, as the East Mississippi Lions travel to Decatur. The twin bill is set to start at 2 p.m. at the Clark/Gay Baseball Complex and fans that cannot attend can watch live at www.eccclive.com/gold.
