EMCC Lions sweep Delta in run-rule fashion to begin conference softball slate on winning note

SCOOBA – The East Mississippi Community College softball team successfully opened MACJC conference play with a run-rule home sweep, 11-2 and 12-3, over Mississippi Delta Community College Wednesday afternoon at the EMCC Softball Field.

On the day, the EMCC Lions totaled 23 runs on 22 hits while also receiving complete-game pitching efforts from freshmen AG Stewart and Carly Thompson.

In the opener, EMCC jumped out to an early lead by plating four runs in the first frame on three hits, including an RBI double by Kaitlyn Brannon.  The Lions were also aided by three first-inning Delta errors.

After the Lady Trojans cut the deficit in half with a pair of runs in the top of the third off Stewart, the Lions got a run back in the bottom half of the inning when Averi Pender's leadoff triple was followed by Kendall Wilkinson's run-scoring single.

EMCC solidified the day's initial run-rule triumph by batting around in the fourth.  The Lions reached Delta starting pitcher Tiffany Phillips for six runs on seven singles, including two-run hits by Wilkinson and fellow sophomore Danielle Darmohray, to account for the 11-2 final in the opening contest.

At the plate for the Lions, Wilkinson, an East Webster High School product, paced EMCC's 12-hit team effort in the opener with a pair of run-scoring singles and a sacrifice fly that drove home four total runs.  Brannon, Darmohray and Sydney Olander also had two hits apiece for the winners.

In the circle, EMCC's Stewart collected her first collegiate win by scattering seven hits over five innings.  The Pisgah High School product struck out five and did not allow a walk in her complete-game victory.

The Lions completed the sweep in their conference-opening twin bill by scoring multiple runs in all four at-bats during the nightcap.  After scoring three times in the first inning and twice more in the second, EMCC benefitted from three walks during a five-run third inning to extend the lead to 10-3.  The Lions then reached the run-rule margin by adding two runs in the fourth.

Delta's only scoring in the second game came on Talaja Echoles' bases-clearing triple in the third off Thompson.  Other than that frame, Thompson settled in to allow only a single in the other four innings combined.  The former Germantown High School standout struck out eight and did not issue a walk to improve to 2-4 on the year with the complete-game win.

Adding 10 hits as a team during the nightcap victory, Mallory Vance, of West Lauderdale High School, joined Wilkinson and Darmohray with two hits apiece for the Lions.

Coach Kyndall White's 5-12 EMCC Lions, with a four-game winning streak, are scheduled to play conference road doubleheaders at Holmes and Copiah-Lincoln on Tuesday and Friday, respectively, during spring break week.