March 27, 2019
The East Central Community College Lady Warrior softball team picked up its second straight MACJC conference sweep with a pair wins against the Meridian Lady Eagles Tuesday, March 26, at Tommy McDonald Field at Highland Park in Meridian.
East Central had to come from behind to win the opener 9-5 and then scored four runs in the top of the seventh to seal the nightcap 8-5. With the wins, East Central moved to 6-2 in league play and in a tie for fourth place. The Lady Warriors are now 13-7 overall on the season. The MCC Lady Eagles fell to 11-9 and 4-4.
East Central took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second in game one when sophomore center fielder Parker Breland (Union) doubled in two runs, stole third base, and then scored on an error.
Meridian answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the frame, another run in the third, and three more in the bottom of the fourth for a 5-3 lead. The Lady Warriors then scored six runs over the final three innings to grab the 9-5 win.
The comeback started in the top of the fifth when East Central freshman catcher Anna McNeer (Canton Academy) singled in freshman third baseman Hannah Dufault and freshman left fielder Olivia Houston. Dufault (Hurley, East Central) had singled and Houston (Northwest Rankin) followed with a double.
East Central scored another run in the top of the sixth on a Dufault single, scoring freshman designated hitter MaKenzie Barnett (Neshoba Central), who opened the inning with a walk. The Lady Warriors added three more runs in the top of the seventh. Sophomore shortstop Annika Jones (Leake Academy) opened the inning with a double and was brought home on an RBI single from freshman right fielder EmilySue Parkman (Lake). Dufault later singled in the final two Lady Warrior runs of the game.
Freshman Brooklyn King (George County) got the win for East Central in relief. She threw the final three and two thirds innings giving up no runs, two hits, and striking out four batters.
East Central took a 1-0 lead in game two on a solo home run by Houston in the top of the first. The Lady Warriors extended that lead to 4-0 in the top of the third when Houston singled in two more runs and Jones brought in a run with a single.
Meridian answered with a couple of runs in the bottom of the frame and another in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 4-3. The Lady Warriors put the game away in the decisive seventh inning with four runs. McNeer doubled in two runs and Parkman singled in two, giving East Central the 8-3 lead.
Meridian scored two runs after two outs in the bottom of the seventh to make the final score 8-5.
Freshman Braelyn Boykin (Mize) got the win for East Central. She threw all seven innings and gave up five hits and struck out four.
Houston, the current MACJC Softball Player of the Week, had another big series for East Central, with seven hits in eight trips to the plate, including three doubles, one homer, and three RBI. The Lady Warriors stole 11 bases in the two games, including three by Jones.
The Lady Warriors return home to face the No. 18 ranked Itawamba Lady Indians at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, March 29, at the Softball Park on campus in Decatur. East Central will entertain Gulf Coast at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, before traveling to Sumiton, Ala., to face Bevill State in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 5.
Most East Central home softball games can be heard on WKOZ “Cruisin” 98.3 or watched via live stream video at www.eccc.edu/eccc-media.
