April 22, 2021
The Lady Warriors of East Central Community College dropped a pair of non-conference games yesterday, April 21, as the team traveled to Bay Minette, Ala. to take on the Coastal Alabama-South Lady Sun Chiefs. The two losses drop ECCC to 10-24 overall on the year and improve CAS to 31-16.
Game One | L, 5-4
Game one was an exciting contest as the Lady Warriors rallied late to knot the game, but a walk-off single eventually swung the game into the Lady Sun Chiefs' favor.
After two scoreless frames, the Lady Warriors were the first on the board with an RBI single from Madison Holton (Brandon) in the top of the third. That score would hold until the fifth when the Sun Chiefs plated two runs on a single and fielder's choice to take a 2-1 lead.
ECCC was quick to hit back as Zharia Richardson (Gulfport) drove in a run in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 2-2 hard-hit single. The back-and-forth play continued into the bottom of the sixth as Coastal Alabama retook the lead at 3-2 with an RBI double after a pair of sacrifice bunts got a runner in scoring position.
The pendulum of momentum was back in the Lady Warriors' favor in the top of the seventh as Sidney Rone (Ethel) hit a line-drive homer to right field that scored Mary Moore Widemire (Hattiesburg) who reached base on a single. The big swing put ECCC back in the lead, 4-3.
Unfortunately, four late singles in the bottom of the seventh from Coast Alabama plated two runs to give the Lady Sun Chiefs the victory.
Holton led ECCC in hits in the contest with two, while Rone's two-run bomb allowed her to post a team-high two RBIs.
Four pitchers were in action for ECCC with Gracey Baucom (Purvis) getting the start. She went two innings, allowing zero runs on zero hits and striking out one. Kam Hodges(Ethel), Jayce Currie (West Monroe, La.), and Braelyn Boykin (Mize) each contributed in relief.
Game Two | L, 10-2
Game two had a quicker start as ECCC's second batter, Lizzy Hollingsworth (Decatur), roped a triple to center field. The freshmen went on to score later in the frame on a passed ball.
A solo shot from the Lady Sun Chiefs tied the game in the bottom of the first and the Lady Warriors were not able to score again until Rone and Holton posted back-to-back doubles in the top of the third. The RBI from Holton gave ECCC the lead, 2-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, three RBI singles, an RBI groundout, and an error blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth as six Lady Sun Chiefs crossed the plate in the inning. The scoring burst pushed Coast Alabama in front, 7-2.
The Lady Warriors refused to give in and loaded the bases in the sixth, but were unable to plate any runs. The Lady Sun Chiefs went on to score three in the bottom of the frame to end the game, 10-2.
Holton, Hollingsworth, Rone, Anna Caime (Zachary, La.), Katelynn Gipson (Decatur), and Landry Leblanc (Forest) all finished with one hit each in the contest, while Holton posted the lone RBI.
Baucom got the start in the circle again for ECCC, while Boykin and Hodges entered the game from the bullpen, throwing two innings and one and two-thirds innings respectively.
Up Next
The Lady Warriors are back on the road tomorrow, April 23, as the team travels to Clarksdale to take on the Coahoma Lady Tigers. The contests were originally scheduled for Saturday but have been moved up to avoid incoming rain threats. Games are slated for 2 and 4 p.m. start times.
