2016 Combined

East Central Sweeps East Mississippi In MACJC Softball Action

By: ECCC Media Relations Posted: Fri 8:09 PM, Apr 08, 2016 --The East Central Community College Lady Diamond Warriors swept a softball doubleheader April 8 from the East Mississippi Lady Lions in MACJC conference action at the Softball Park in Decatur.

ECCC won the opener 7-4, and came back to win the nightcap 11-2.

With the sweep, ECCC improved to 34-7 overall and 18-6 in MACJC play. The Lady Lions dropped to 17-19 overall and 12-12 in the conference. In game one, the Lady Warriors trailed EMCC 1-0 early, before sophomore Andi Hannaford of Magnolia Heights Academy singled to bring home Katlyn Duke of Neshoba Central High School to tie the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. The Lady Diamond Warriors extended their lead to 6-1 in the third on back-to-back solo home runs by Brittney McCray of Sumrall High School and Duke. EMCC would cut the lead to 6-4 in the top of the sixth. An RBI double by East Central freshman Courtney Moore of Clinton High School in the bottom of the sixth brought home Summer Lavender of Canton Academy to extend the ECCC lead to the final 7-4 score. Sophomore Lacey Hill of Kilbourne (La.) High School picked up the win in the circle striking out four batters over seven innings of work. Game two featured the Lady Diamond Warriors scoring five runs in the bottom of the second to build an early 7-1 lead. An RBI double by Elizabeth Frey of Purvis High School, two-run double by Mahalia Gibson of Oak Grove High School, and an RBI double by Caitlyn Aldous of Petal High School helped power ECCC's 11-run outburst in game two. Leake Academy's Chloe Thaggard picked up the game two win, striking out one and allowing four hits over five innings. "We came out today and played with a lot of energy," said ECCC Coach Kristin Chaney. "We made adjustments to each pitcher they put out there that really helped us offensively. Our pitchers threw well enough to win the ball games and our defense made the plays behind them. ECCC would score three more runs in the second on two EMCC errors to take a 4-1 lead.

"I loved our fire and energy today!"

The East Central Lady Diamond Warriors travel to Meridian Community College Monday, April 11 , for MACJC games at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.