May 17, 2021
After numerous delays due to weather, the No. 15 East Central Community College Warriors finally kicked off the NJCAA Region XXIII Tournament versus No. 2 LSU Eunice Bengals on Monday night, May 17, in Poplarville on the campus of Pearl River. The contest was the first of the six-team tournament, all of which are ranked nationally in No. 2 Eunice, No. 3 Pearl River, No. 5 Meridian, No. 14 Itawamba, No. 15 ECCC, and No. 20 Hinds. Eunice picked up the win, 8-5, after a high-energy matchup.
The Warriors took an early lead as Jesse Boydstun (Louisville) drove in Roper Ball (Noxapater) in the top of the first on a groundout, but the Bengals were quick to hit back as they plated three runs in the bottom half of the frame to pull ahead by two.
The lead grew in the bottom of the second as another Bengal run crossed the plate. The Warriors refused to let the lead get out of hand as ECCC put up a three-spot on the scoreboard in the top of the third. Boydstun got the scoring started with an RBI single before Amani Larry (Bossier City, La.) scored on a passed ball. Trey Lewis (Silas, Ala.) drove in the final run of the inning with an RBI ground out.
After a quick inning in the field, the Warriors knotted the game at five-all in the top of the fourth as Clayton Cook (Mize) roped a line drive to center field. The score would hold until the bottom of the sixth when the Bengals scored two on an error and passed ball, making it 7-5.
The Bengals were back at it in the bottom of the seventh with a sacrifice fly, but the Warriors got out of a two-runner jam to limit the damage. Unfortunately, the Warriors could not find a run for the remainder of the contest, solidifying the 8-5 score.
Gage Tufnell (Hurley) started the mound on the mound for the Warriors. He allowed five hits and five runs over two innings, striking out one and walking one. Jacob Holifield (Semmes, Ala.) took the loss as he allowed two hits and one run over three and a third innings, striking out two and walking zero. Gates Pee (Clinton), Walker Johnson (Mantee), Brian Johnson (Ridgeland), and Hayden West (Decatur) all threw in relief.
Cook led the Warriors with three hits at the plate, while Boydstun's two RBIs were a team-best. Boydstun and R.J. Fletcher (St. Martin) both posted two hits in the game.
Austin Andrishok earned the victory on the hill for Eunice. He allowed two hits and zero runs over three innings, striking out four and walking one.
Up Next
Due to the weather, the Warriors' next matchup will be the winner of the Meridian and Itawamba game which will be played tomorrow, May 18, at Noon. ECCC's second-round game, originally set for tomorrow will now be played on Wednesday, May 19 at 3:30 p.m. Fans can watch the action live at www.prccmedia.com/gold courtesy of the Pearl River Community College athletic department.
