February 10, 2021
Freshman shortstop Lizzy Hollingsworth get a hit in game one vs. Marion. (EC Photo)
The East Central Community College Lady Warriors were finally back on the field to open the 2021 season versus the Marion Military Lady Tigers (3-1) on Tuesday afternoon. There was no shortage of action in the contests as the teams combined for 26 runs on 44 hits. Despite a strong effort from the Lady Warriors, MMI swept the two games.
Game One | L, 10-7
The Lady Tigers of Marion Military leaped out in front in the top of the first, 2-0, with some solid at bats early. The Lady Warriors clapped back in the bottom of the first frame as Zharia Richardson (Gulfport) ripped a single over the shortstop's head. The RBI-double put the first run on the board for ECCC in 2021.
The bats were rolling for the Lady Tigers again in the top of the third as they poured in another pair of runs to grow the lead to 4-1.
The Lady Warriors had some chippy at bats in the bottom of the third and scratched across a run to cut the lead to just two, 4-2, but the Lady Tigers added six more with back-to-back homers and several hits in the top half of the fourth to grow the lead to 10-2.
The Lady Warriors mounted a good comeback effort in the bottom of the fifth after a pair of walks and a single from Anna Caime (Zachary, La.) loaded the bases. Katelynn Gipson (Decatur) blasted a shot to left field to clear the bases with a grand slam. The big swing cut the Lady Tigers' lead to just four, 10-6.
ECCC played great defense down the stretch and scored another in the bottom of the sixth, but it just was not enough as MMI grabbed the 10-7 victory.
Braelyn Boykin (Mize) toed the rubber for the Lady Warriors and picked up the loss as she lasted two and a third innings allowing five hits and four runs. Jayce Currie (West Monroe, La.) and Mattie Hodge (Laurel) also saw action in relief.
Richardson and Gipson led the way at the dish with two and four RBIs, respectively. MMI was led by Hope Owen with three RBIs on two hits.
Game Two | L, 5-4
Much like the opener, there was action early in game two as the Lady Tigers went up 1-0 in the top of the first.
Molly Moore (Meridian) led things off for the Lady Warriors in the bottom half of the first with a single and was brought home with a Gipson triple. Hodge followed and drove Gipson in with an RBI-single to give ECCC the lead, 2-1.
A base-clearing double from MMI put them back on top, 3-2, in the top of the third. The score also started a scoring drought for the Lady Warriors as the Lady Tigers added one in the third and another in the fifth to grow the lead to 5-2.
Kaytie Hillman (Lake) led things off for ECCC in the bottom of the sixth and hammered a line drive over the left-field fence to cut the lead to just two, 5-3. ECCC took that momentum to the field and held the Lady Tigers in the top of seventh.
Going into the bottom half of the seventh, the Lady Warriors needed two runs to keep the game going and Richardson led things off with a monster solo homer to center field to cut the lead to just one, 5-4. Unfortunately, that was the only run ECCC was able to produce in the final frame, finalizing the 5-4 loss.
Gracey Baucom (Purvis) took the loss for the Lady Warriors in the circle. She went seven innings, allowing five runs on 12 hits and striking out one, while Ana Aaron was credited with the victory for Marion Military.
Richardson and Hodge led the way at the plate for ECCC with a pair of hits each, while Hillman and Gipson joined them with an RBI on one hit each.
The Lady Warriors are back on the diamond on Friday, Feb. 12 as the team travels to Bay Minette, Ala. to face Coastal Alabama-South. The first pitch for that doubleheader is set for 2 p.m.
