February 25, 2022

On a breezy day in Decatur, the East Central Community College Lady Warrior softball team took on the Marion Military Institute Lady Tigers. The doubleheader was the third and fourth matchup between the programs as the teams split a doubleheader to open the season on February 8th. The Lady Warriors and Lady Tigers also split the two games on Thursday, February 24, with ECCC taking the first game, 7-3, and falling in the second, 5-2. The split moved the Lady Warriors to 8-6 while MMI went to 11-11. 

Game One | W, 7-3

A steal and passed ball allowed a Lady Tiger to reach third in the top of the third before a single put MMI on top by one going into the bottom of the frame.

The Lady Warriors were quick to hit back with three runs. Mary Moore Widemire led the inning off with a single and was brought home with an Emily McDonald RBI single. An error and a double-steal plated two more for ECCC and put the Lady Warriors on top 3-1.

MMI loaded the bags in the top of the fourth and picked up one run on an error, but the ECCC defense limited the damage as they forced three Lady Tigers to be stranded.

ECCC added another two runs in the fifth with an RBI fielder's choice from Jayce Currie and a passed ball that plated Mattie Hodge. An RBI single from MMI in the sixth cut the Lady Warrior lead to 6-3 before Widemire added the final run of the game in the bottom as she drove in Lizzy Hollingsworth

Caroline Jackson led the Lady Warriors in the pitcher's circle. She allowed six hits and two runs over five innings, walking one. Rae Rae Evans threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen. 

Emily McDonald and Widemire led the Warriors at the plate with two hits each. McDonald, Widemire, and Currie all posted an RBI in the win. 

 Game Two | L, 5-2

There was not much going for the Lady Warriors bats in the nightcap as ECCC posted four hits in the contest. Marion Military managed just six, but played an errorless game in the field to aid them in the victory. 

An RBI ground out in the top of the first put the Lady Tigers on the scoreboard early, and an RBI single in the third inning grew that lead to 2-0. 

Taylor Pittman responded with a sac-fly to left to score Hodge, who led off the bottom of the third with a walk.

The Lady Warrior momentum was cut short as the Lady Tigers hit two homers in the top of the fourth, a solo shot and a two-run, long-ball pushing the lead back to two, 5-1. 

Emmi Harkins plated the final run of the game with a solo, line-drive homer in the seventh. 

Currie got the start and the loss in the circle as she allowed five hits and five runs over four innings, striking out two. Makayla White surrendered zero runs on one hit over three innings, walking zero in relief. 

No Lady Warriors posted multiple hits in the game as Hollingsworth, Pittman, Harkins, and Shante' Beaulieu all had one. 

The Lady Warriors are in action this Saturday, February 26 in the Hinds JUCO Classic being played in Brandon. The Lady Warriors are slated for two games against Coastal Alabama-North at 11 a.m. and Calhoun Community College at 1 p.m.