March 8, 2021
It was a back-and-forth day for the Lady Warriors of East Central Community College on Saturday, March 6, as they came from behind to defeat Holmes 4-3 in the opener, before falling in game two, 8-3, in a MACCC doubleheader. The split moves ECCC to 4-10 on the year and to 3-3 in conference play.
Game One | W, 4-3
A three-run sixth inning was the difference-maker in the opener as Faith Guy (Pachuta) and Mattie Hodge (Laurel) ripped a pair of hits. Hodge's double, plated two runs to put the Lady Warriors up 4-3.
The scoring started in the fourth inning as Holmes scored on an RBI double from Hallie Billie. Kaytie Hillman (Lake) responded for the Warriors with an RBI single that plated Zharia Richardson (Gulfport) who led off the inning with a single. Holmes grew the lead to 2-1 in the top of the fifth and to 3-1 in the top of the sixth before the Lady Warriors' breakout inning.
Hodge and Hillman both finished with a team-high two hits, and Hodge's two RBIs led the way.
Gracey Baucom (Purvis) earned the victory on the rubber for ECCC as she surrendered three runs on seven hits and striking out seven through the complete-game performance.
Game Two | L, 8-3
The nightcap went in the Lady Bulldogs' favor as an early 4-0 lead was too much for ECCC to overcome. The four runs came through the first two innings.
ECCC got one back in the bottom of the fourth as Sidney Rone (Ethel) drew a four-pitch walk with the bases loaded. Unfortunately, three Lady Warriors were left stranded as no one else crossed the plate in that frame.
A big play came in the bottom of the fifth in which Richardson roped shot that plated Lizzy Hollingsworth (Decatur), but the Lady Bulldogs were able to record outs on the basepaths as the Lady Warriors tried to get more runs across the plate.
The Lady Bulldogs put in two more in the sixth and another in the seventh. Richardson hit a sac-fly in the bottom of the seventh, but that was all ECCC could score to solidify the 8-3 loss.
Braelyn Boykin (Mize) took the loss for ECCC in the circle. The righty surrendered eight runs on 11 hits over seven innings, striking out nine and walking one.
Richardson and Katelynn Gipson (Decatur) each posted two hits and Richardson's two RBIs were a team-high.
Up Next
The Lady Warriors are back at home on Wednesday, March 10, as the No. 2 Jones College Lady Bobcats travel to Decatur. The games can be seen at www.eccclive.com/gold and the first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
