April 16, 2019
Sophomore shortstop Annika Jones throws to first to complete a double play in the first game against Co-Lin. (Photo Courtesy Co-Lin Sports Information)
The East Central Community College Lady Warriors started a week of six softball games in five days by sweeping the No. 10 team in the nation on the road.
The Lady Warriors traveled to Wesson Monday, April 15, and picked up 7-4 and 4-1 wins over the Copiah-Lincoln Lady Wolves, who checked in at No. 10 in the most recent NJCAA Division II Top 20 Poll. The Lady Warriors have now won four of their last six games, including three against top 10 opponents.
The schedule doesn’t get any easier, as East Central will face No. 11 ranked Northeast in Booneville on Wednesday, April 17, at 1 p.m.
With the wins, East Central moves to 17-11 overall and 10-6 in league play. The Lady Warriors are now tied for fifth in the league standings. Co-Lin falls to 21-10 overall and 10-8 in the league.
East Central struck quickly in the opener with four runs in the top of the first inning. A bases-loaded double by freshman catcher Anna McNeer (Canton Academy) brought in two runs and an RBI single from freshman designated hitter EmilySue Parkman (Lake) brought in another. A sacrifice fly from freshman third baseman Hannah Dufault (Hurley, East Central) also scored a run.
The Lady Warriors extended the lead to 6-0 with a two-out, two-run double from Dufault in the sixth. After Co-Lin scored twice in the bottom of the sixth, East Central added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when sophomore shortstop Annika Jones (Leake Academy) opened the inning with a double and freshman left fielder Olivia Houston (Northwest Rankin) followed with a double.
Co-Lin closed out the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to make the final score 7-4.
Freshman Jesalyn Jarrette (Baskin, La., Franklin Academy) got the win in the circle for East Central. She didn’t give up a hit until the fourth inning.
Freshman Braelyn Boykin (Mize) pitched her third straight complete game four-hitter in the circle to help the Lady Warriors to the 4-1 second game win. East Central pounded out 11 hits in the contest, including three by Houston and two each by Jones, freshman center fielder Parker Breland (Union), and freshman right fielder MaKenzie Barnett (Neshoba Central).
East Central scored first in game two as Jones singled in the top of the first and was brought home by a another single from Houston. The score stayed 1-0 until the top of the fifth when the Lady Warriors scored four more times. Freshman second baseman Kaylee Webb (Ruston, La.) and Jones opened the inning with singles, and Houston picked up another RBI with a single of her own. A Co-Lin error on a McNeer fly ball scored Jones and Houston.
Co-Lin’s only run of the game came with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.
After the trip to Booneville to face No. 11 Northeast, East Central returns home for a rain makeup with Holmes beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 19. Hinds visits the Softball Park in Decatur for a doubleheader that begins at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24.
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.
