Gordon's home runs lift Lady Eagles over EMCC

By Rocky Higginbotham/sports editor

Courtney Gordon continues to add to her school record for home runs, and the Meridian Community College Lady Eagles continue to impress in MACJC Central Division play.

Gordon smacked three homers in a doubleheader sweep of rival East Mississippi on Friday afternoon, as MCC won 10-5 and 10-2 over the Lady Lions at Tommy McDonald Field at Highland Park.

The wins lifted Meridian to 18-16 overall and 7-2 in division play. The contests were originally slated for today, but moved to Friday in anticipation of severe weather.

In the opener, EMCC was up 5-4 after scoring twice in the top of the sixth inning — but a grand slam by Terra Moore sparked a six-run rally by MCC.

"That inning was a big inning for us," MCC coach Robert Eakins said. "It kind of set the tone for the rest of the afternoon."

Moore finished 2-for-4 while Gordon was 2-for-3 with her 11th and 12th home runs of the season.

De'Miracle Biggs, Whitney Drachenberg and Carsheena Blanks all had two hits for MCC, while Gabrielle Morgan was the winning pitcher. Morgan scattered nine hits in a complete-game effort and walked only one.

Amechia Hickmon was 2-for-4 with a double and Ashley Clark had a pair of doubles for EMCC, while Nicole Lanthier was the losing pitcher.

In the second game, Gordon was 3-for-4 and extended her own school record with her 13th home run of the season to help MCC to an easy win.

Meridian out-hit East Mississippi 16-7 in the nightcap. Moore was 3-for-4 with a double, Biggs was 3-for-5, Jennifer Bristow was 2-for-2 and Blanks also had two hits.

Dee Sowell was the winning pitcher, giving up just the two runs in six innings as MCC won for the eighth time in its last 10 games.

"We played well," Eakins said. "Have to compliment pitchers for a great job today.

"Gabby kept us in the ball game which is all we ask for her to do ... we played a little relaxed before we got our focus."

MCC is at Bevill-Sumiton Tuesday.

EMCC, meanwhile, got a 3-for-3 performance from Kristie Owens in the second game while Hickman was 2-for-3. Jorga Edmonds was the losing pitcher.

The Lady Lions are scheduled to go to Southwest, Tenn. Monday.