MCC softball splits with EMCC

The Meridian Community College softball team split a conference doubleheader with visiting East Mississippi Community College on Friday afternoon.

MCC won the first game 3-2 and lost the second game 4-1.

In game one, Gabrielle Morgan went the distance scattering five hits over seven innings of work.

EMCC scored two runs in the third inning as Danyielle Dore reached on an infield error that was followed by single off the bat of Ashley Clark. Both runners came around to score on a double by Josie Mathews.

MCC scored single runs in the first, third and seventh innings. Three consecutive singles, all with two outs, by Shanese Hunter, Gabrielle Morgan and Whitney Drachenberg produced one run in the first inning for MCC.

In the third inning, De'Miracle Biggs received a walk and reached third on a single by Hunter and passed ball. Biggs scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Gabrielle Morgan.

The game staying tied until the bottom of the seventh when Natalie Parker and LaToya Braxton led off with back to back singles. Parker scored the winning run on a sharp hit ball off the bat of Biggs that was misplayed by an EMCC infielder.

For the game MCC collected eight hits: Hunter and Braxton were both 2 for 3
.
In the second game of the doubleheader, MCC out hit EMCC 13 to 6, but the Lady Eagles committed five errors that helped the Lady Lions scored four runs, of which only two were earned.

MCC stranded eleven runners on the game, seven in the first three innings.

“You can not do that and expected to win games,” said MCC softball coach Robert Eakins.

“We left the bases loaded in the second and third innings. If we pick up a few runs in the first three innings it is a different ballgame and there are more things we can do offensively. Morgan did a great job of limiting the Lions to six hits but we did not give her any support,” added Eakins.

MCC’s lone run came in the sixth inning as Natalie Parker and Brooklyn Williams led off with consecutive singles. Parker later scored on a two out single by Biggs.

For the game De'Miracle Biggs and Constance Jones were 2 for 4 with Brooklyn Williams going 2 for 3.

“My hat is off to EMCC, they did the things they had to do to earn a split,” said Eakins

With the split, MCC is now 3-1 in Central Division action and 7-17 overall. The Lady Eagles sit atop the division tied with Hinds, both teams with a 3-1 record, while ECCC and EMCC are 1-1 and Holmes 0-4.

“We just need to stay focus, keep hitting the ball and play better defense overall the rest of the way in the conference and we should be okay,” added Eakins.

The Lady Eagles will now take a break from MACJC Central Division action this week as they travel to Alabama for a three game road trip.

The Lady Eagles begin their non-conference play Tuesday when they face Bevil State in Sumiton, AL. MCC will then play Jefferson Davis in Brewton, AL on Thursday and wrap up their road trip on Saturday Jeff State in Birmingham, AL. All games are 1:00 p.m. doubleheaders.