Fast start earns EMCC Lions 9-7 opening-game win and DH split with Hinds at Jackson’s Smith-Wills Stadium

JACKSON – The visiting Lions of East Mississippi Community College made a five-run first inning hold up for a 9-7 opening-game victory over Hinds but couldn't complete a seventh-inning comeback attempt in the nightcap to fall 6-5 and split a Sunday afternoon MACJC baseball doubleheader played at Jackson's Smith-Wills Stadium.

In the opener, EMCC's first six batters reached base safely in the top of the first.  Following a walk, infield error and a hit-batsman, the Lions chased Hinds starting pitcher Trent Driver after consecutive hits by Taylor Stafford, Emil Ellis and Whitt Davis.

After the Eagles cut into the early deficit by scoring a pair of runs in the third on a two-out, two-run single by Quinton Logan off EMCC starter JC Redden, the Lions got the runs right back in their next at-bat to reclaim their five-run lead at 7-2.  Capping the visitors' two-run fourth was Mike Farnell's RBI single, one of three hits by EMCC's freshman catcher in the opening game.

Hinds continued to cut into the deficit by plating two runs in the sixth off Redden and two more in the seventh off reliever Jay Booth.  However, the Lions were able to minimize the damage by turning key double plays during both innings.

With Hinds using six pitchers while playing catch-up throughout the opener, EMCC added solo tallies in the seventh and eighth innings on a run-scoring single by Ellis and Farnell's bases-loaded groundout, respectively, to move ahead 9-6. 

The Eagles threatened again in the bottom of the eighth.  After loading the bases with a walk, infield error and a single, EMCC reliever Ryder Davis plunked Landry Newsom to force in a run.  Davis then struck out Chase Cockrell for the second out and gave way to Colton McKeithen, who promptly got Logan to ground into the final out with the bases still full.  McKeithen then retired Hinds in order in the ninth to preserve the win and pick up the save.

Redden, out of New Hope High School, earned his second win of the year by giving up four runs on five hits, while striking out seven and walking three, over six innings.

Along with Farnell's three singles, Ellis and Whitt Davis also had multiple hits for the winners during the first game.

The Eagles turned the tables on the visitors in the nightcap by scoring four runs off EMCC starting pitcher Alex Knight in the bottom of the first.  The big blow in the inning was Newsom's three-run homer.

It momentarily appeared that EMCC had tied the contest at 4-4 in the top of third when Jo McNabb's two-out, bases-loaded hit was mishandled in the outfield to seemingly clear the bases.  However, the umpires ruled that Farnell had missed third base while heading home ahead of the speedy McNabb.  Nonetheless, the Lions had cut the deficit in half with a pair of runs on the play.

After Hinds responded by getting back those two runs in the home half of the third on RBI singles from Hunter Wilson and Acy Owen, the visitors answered with a solo tally in the fourth on Marcus Ragan's RBI triple to make it a 6-3 contest.

As EMCC relievers Chance Riley and Eli Leathers kept the Eagles off the scoreboard from the fourth inning on, the Lions made things very interesting in the top of the seventh.  Following back-to-back, one-out walks to Stafford and Ellis, Whitt Davis' RBI single and Farnell's sacrifice fly made it a one-run game.  With Davis on first, Hinds closer Carlisle Koestler struck out McNabb to seal the win and secure the doubleheader split for the Eagles.

Coach Chris Rose's East Mississippi Lions, 11-23 overall and 7-11 in MACJC play, play host to the Itawamba Indians Tuesday afternoon on the Scooba campus.  First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at EMCC's Gerald Poole Field.