March 7, 2022
The East Central Community College Lady Warriors softball team took a pair of games from the Lansing Community College Stars on Monday night, March 7, to improve to 11-7 on the year. The games were just the Stars' third and four games of the year. LCC fell to 0-4 on the young season. ECCC was dominant in all parts of the game as timely hitting, strong pitching, and lock-down fielding led to the wins. The Lady Warriors scored 15 runs through the two contests, gave up no runs, and only surrendered two hits over 12 innings.
Game One | W, 8-0 (5 innings)
Caroline Jackson threw a gem in the opener as the freshman spun a no-hitter against the Stars. The Lady Warriors backed her up nicely in the field and crushed it at the plate as ECCC poured in eight runs in the fourth to cruise to the run-rule win.
The big inning started with a dropped strike three, an error, and a hit batter. The free bases with no outs were a perfect recipe for an explosive frame and the Lady Warriors took advantage. Emmi Harkins picked up an RBI with a bases-loaded walk, and Lizzy Hollingsworth got the fans on their feet with a two-run RBI double to put ECCC on top 3-0. An RBI single from Shante' Beaulieu and an RBI double from Mary Moore Widemire blew the game open at 5-0.
Another Lansing error kept runners on the basepaths and Emily McDonald capitalized with a two-run RBI double. Meadow Villar powered in the final run of the big inning with a hard-hit single.
The Warriors finished the game with five hits and three walks. Hollingsworth and McDonald's two RBIs were team-highs.
Jackson was in command throughout the game as she threw just 49 pitches in the contest with 32 strikes. She struck out one batter and walked one.
Game Two | W, 7-0
The Lady Warriors were the first on the scoreboard in the nightcap as ECCC plated three runs in the bottom of the second.
A single from Anna Caime and an error put two Lady Warriors on the bags. A fielder's choice on a Hollingsworth ground ball, an RBI ground out from Beaulieu, and a Widemire RBI single all plated runs.
An error in the fourth plated another Lady Warrior run. A passed ball added another for ECCC before Villar ripped an RBI single to plate an additional two runs. The big frame put the Lady Warriors on top, 7-0, going into the fifth.
Rae Rae Evans led the Lady Warriors to victory in the pitcher's circle. She lasted four innings, allowing one hit and zero runs while striking out four. Jayce Currie threw three innings in relief out of the bullpen.
ECCC racked up eight hits to the Stars' two, with Hodge and Villar both posting two in the game.
Up Next
The Lady Warriors will be back in Decatur on Saturday, March 12 for the first MACCC doubleheader of 2022 against East Mississippi. Games start at 1 and 3 p.m. and can be seen live at www.eccclive.com/gold.
