March 11, 2017
The No. 12 nationally ranked East Central Community College Lady Warrior softball team began its 10-game spring break schedule with a pair of doubleheader sweeps March 10 and 11.
The Lady Warriors swept Coahoma Community College in Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges action Friday, March 10, at the Softball Park in Decatur. ECCC won the first game by run rule 16-2 and then took the nightcap 8-1.
Coach Kristin Chaney’s squad then traveled to Alabama on Saturday, March 11, and defeated Coastal Alabama-Monroeville 8-1 and 8-6.
East Central is now 17-3 on the season and 2-2 in MACJC league play.
In the opener against Coahoma, freshman Kayla Beckham from Neshoba Central went four for four at the plate with three RBI to power East Central’s 13-hit attack. Sophomore Brittney McCray from Sumrall drove in three runs, and freshmen Shelby Walters from Northwest Rankin, Madalyn McMahon from Neshoba Central, and Katherine Shell from Brookhaven all had two RBI each.
Freshman Kaitlyn Oswalt from Heritage Academy in Columbus picked up the win going three innings and giving up two hits. Sophomore Brantlie Sheets out of Nanih Waiya High School pitched the final two innings.
In the nightcap with Coahoma, it was McMahon’s turn to go four for four and drive in three runs. She had two singles, a double, and a home run. Beckham drove in three more runs with a single and two triples.
Freshman Mackenzie Rousseau picked up the win in the circle. The product of Vanderbilt Catholic in Houma, La., pitched five innings and gave up four hits and struck out five.
On Saturday in Monroeville, Ala., Beckham continued her RBI output driving in two more runs with a double in game one. Sophomore Latesia Davis from Newton County High School and freshman Cassie Obman from Caledonia High School each drove in a pair of runs. McCray and Davis had two-hit games.
Oswalt and Sheets combined for the shutout in the circle. Oswalt is now 11-1 on the season.
East Central jumped out to another 8-0 lead in game two, before Coastal Alabama scored six unanswered runs to make it an 8-6 game after five innings. Davis had an inside the park home run that scored three runs for the Lady Warriors.
Rousseau picked up the win and Oswalt came on and pitched the final two innings for the save.
The Lady Warriors will host three more doubleheaders during spring break week beginning with Pearl River Community College at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14. Holmes Community College comes to town Friday, March 17, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and Northwest Mississippi Community College visits the Softball Park in Decatur on Sunday, March 19, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
