Lady Warriors Split Twinbill with No. 4 Itawamba Softball

March 26, 2022

The East Central Community College Lady Warrior softball bounced back from a 7-5 loss to No. 4 Itawamba Community College in game one with a stellar, 9-4, victory in the nightcap to earn a MACCC split Saturday, March 26. The split moved ECCC to 16-12 on the year and to 5-5 in conference play, while ICC moved to 21-3, 7-3. 

 

The Lady Warriors battled throughout both contests as the team made a late-game push in the opener to narrow the margin, and scored early in the second game to run away with a five-run victory. 

 

Lizzy Hollingsworth led ECCC on the day with three hits, while a grand slam from Meadow Villar gave her four RBIs on the day. Villar also crossed the plate four times through the two games. 

Game One | L, 7-5

The No. 4 Lady Indians capitalized on some walks, an error, and a pair of RBI singles in the top of the first on Saturday to jump out to a 5-0 start. 

The Lady Warriors got one back in the bottom of the second after Jayce Currie reached base on a fielder's choice. Just three batters later Shante' Beaulieu blooped an RBI single to shallow center field to score Currie.

The Lady Indians got the run back in the top of the third off an RBI single and another in the fourth on a ground out. 

ECCC made things interesting in the bottom of the fifth as Beaulieu led off with a single. After a walk and an error, the bags were loaded for ECCC's Meadow Villar. Villar capitalized on the trip and blasted a grand slam to center field. The four-run shot cut the ICC lead to just two, 7-5. 

The Lady Warriors got two runners aboard in the bottom of the sixth but were unable to plate the runs. 

ECCC racked up seven hits to ICC's six in the contest, with Beaulieu the lone multi-hit player for the Lady Warriors. 

Caroline Jackson got the start and the loss in the circle. The freshman gave up six hits, seven runs – one earned – with seven walks, and three strikeouts. 

Game Two | W, 9-4

The Lady Indians were once again first on the scoreboard in game two as a passed ball allowed a run. 

Mattie Hodge led off the bottom of the first and was hit by pitch to give the Lady Warriors an early base runner. Emily McDonald moved her over and reached base on a stellar bunt. Later in the inning, back-to-back RBI singles from Currie and Lizzy Hollingsworth put the Lady Warriors on top, 2-1.

The Lady Warriors lit up the Lady Indians in the bottom of the third as ECCC poured in six runs. Taylor Pittman got the big frame started with a leadoff double before a pair of walks juiced the bases. Hollingsworth drove in a pair as she blasted a two-run double before Emmi Harkins dropped a perfect bunt on a squeeze to score another. A passed ball and error added two more for ECCC, and McDonald rounded out the explosive inning with an RBI single to put the Lady Warriors on to, 8-1.  

ICC hit back with one run in the top of the fourth and another in the fifth which cut the lead to just five, 8-3.

An error in the bottom of the sixth allowed the Lady Warriors to get one insurance run before the Lady Indians capitalized on an ECCC error in the field in the top of the seventh to close out the scoring. 

Rae Rae Evans threw a strong outing from the circle as she pitched the complete game and surrendered eight hits, four runs – one earned – five walks, and struck out three. 

The Lady Warriors were led at the plate by McDonald and Hollingsworth with two hits each, while Hollingsworth posted a team team-high three RBIs. 

Up Next

The Lady Warriors travel to Ellisville on Tuesday, March 29, to take on the Jones College Lady Bobcats. Games are set for 4 and 6 p.m. and fans can watch the games at www.JCJC.tv.