April 22, 2019
East Central’s Anna McNeer is greeted at home plate after her two-run homer in the sixth inning of game one ended the contest by run-rule. (EC Photo)
The East Central Community College Lady Warriors continued their hot streak of late picking up their sixth and seventh straight wins with a home softball sweep over the Holmes Lady Bulldogs Monday, April 22, in Decatur.
East Central won the opener 12-4 in six innings and then took the nightcap 10-2 in five innings.
The MACJC doubleheader was originally scheduled for April 12 but was postponed twice due to rain.
With the sweep, East Central moves to 21-11 overall and 14-6 in league play. The Lady Warriors are in sole possession of fourth place in the MACJC. Holmes is 10-29 overall and 6-14 in the MACJC.
East Central scored in three’s in the opener with three runs in each of the first, third, fourth, and sixth innings.
Freshman catcher Anna McNeer (Canton Academy) had a big day at the plate in game one going 4-for-4. She drove in two runs with a double in the first inning and two more in the bottom of the sixth with a home run that ended the game by run-rule. East Central pounded out 13 hits in the win, including three by freshman second baseman Kaylee Webb (Ruston, La.)
Freshman first baseman Kailee Swindle (Hattiesburg, Presbyterian Christian School) drove in two runs with a double in the third and freshman left fielder Olivia Houston (Northwest Rankin) drove in a pair of runs with a double and a single.
Freshman Jesalyn Jarrette (Baskin, La., Franklin Academy) got the win in the circle with relief help from freshman Brooklyn King (George County).
East Central started where it left off in game two, with five runs in the bottom of the first for an early 5-0 lead. McNeer struck again with another two-run double. Houston also had an RBI double in the first and Swindle knocked in a run with a single.
After Holmes closed the gap to 5-2, the Lady Warriors struck for three more runs in the third as freshman designated hitter EmilySue Parkman (Lake) brought in a run with a sacrifice fly and freshman center fielder Parker Breland (Union) got an RBI on a triple. Another runner crossed the plate on an error.
East Central built its lead to the final 10-2 when a sacrifice fly in the fifth by freshman third baseman Hannah Dufault (Hurley, East Central) brought in runners from third and second base.
McNeer and freshman right fielder MaKenzie Barnett (Neshoba Central) each had two hits in game two.
Freshman Braelyn Boykin was again strong in the circle for the Lady Warriors. The product of Mize allowed only three hits and one earned run in getting the win.
Hinds visits the Softball Park in Decatur for a doubleheader that begins at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24. East Central will travel to Moorhead to face Mississippi Delta at Noon on Saturday, April 27.
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.
Lady Warrior outfielder Olivia Houston slides safely into third ahead of the throw in the opening game win over Holmes. (EC Photo)
