EMCC Lions let early lead slip away before dropping softball twin bill at Meridian

MERIDIAN – East Mississippi Community College let an early 5-0 lead slip away on the way to dropping a pair of softball decisions at Meridian Community College during Saturday's MACCC action played at Tommy McDonald Field. The visiting Lions fell 6-5 in the opener before the home-standing Eagles completed the sweep with a 12-1 run-rule nightcap win.

The visiting Lions batted through the order off Meridian starting pitcher Willa Simmons to begin the opening game with a five-run first inning. A two-run double by EMCC's Madison Newburn was followed by run-scoring singles from Hanna Boleware and Annagrace Stewart that bookended Blayne Sturgeon's RBI groundout.

As MCC relievers Hannah Capello and Chelsea Regan stepped into the circle to hold the Lions scoreless over the game's final six innings, the Eagles were able to knot the score with three runs in the second inning and two more scores in the fifth frame off EMCC starting pitcher Savannah Mitchell. Run-scoring doubles from Isabella White and Alex Layfield cut the deficit to 5-3 before Allie Loftin's two-run homer in the fifth inning evened the score at 5-5.

White capped a 3-for-3 effort at the plate by tripling to lead off the sixth inning. She later scored the go-ahead run on Layfield's groundout to second base.

The Lions threatened in their next at-bat by getting two runners into scoring position with one out. They were left stranded, however, as Regan came in to retire the two batters she faced.

Outhitting Meridian, 13-11, in the opening game, the Lions were led at the plate by Newburn and Boleware with three hits apiece. Mitchell and Stewart added two hits each during EMCC's 13-hit effort.

The nightcap belonged to the Eagles, as they reached EMCC starting pitcher Allee Bennett for a first-inning run before breaking open the contest with four runs in the fourth frame and a seven-run explosion an inning later. Meridian reached the run-rule margin on Layfield's walk-off grand slam in the fifth inning.

EMCC's lone offense off White in the nightcap came in the top of the fifth inning on Boleware's RBI double that plated RaMiyah Price, who had singled for the Lions' first hit of the game.

Boleware, a freshman from Sebastopol, led the Lions at the plate on the day by combining for 4-for-6 hitting with a pair of doubles and two RBIs during the doubleheader.

Head coach Mackenzie Byrd's EMCC Lions (9-21, 1-13 MACCC) will travel to Fulton to meet the Indians of Itawamba Community College on Tuesday (March 31).