EMCC Lions open conference play by dropping softball decisions at Hinds

RAYMOND – East Mississippi Community College's softball team opened conference play by dropping 11-4 and 9-0 road decisions to Hinds during Saturday's MACCC action played at Rene T. Warren Field.

The conference opener featured a competitive contest through the first five frames, with the home-standing Lady Eagles taking a slim 5-4 lead into the sixth inning. Hinds grabbed an early 3-0 advantage in the opening frame on Melissa Lopera's two-out, bases-clearing double off EMCC starting pitcher Carys Goodwin.

The Lions were able to tie the game by the third inning with two runs in the second and a solo score a frame later off Hinds starting pitcher Kyleigh Forsyth. Following Victoria Irby's leadoff single in the second inning, Devyn DeBardelaben's triple plated EMCC's first run of the game. She then scored a batter later on Madalyn Dvorak's groundout to second. The visitors knotted the score at 3-3 the next inning when Jenna Kirkland led off the third with a walk and came around to score two batters later on Lana Atkins' run-scoring single.

After Hinds briefly reclaimed the lead at 4-3 with a run in the fourth inning, the teams traded solo tallies the next frame. The Lions repeated their third-inning scoring scenario in the fifth with a leadoff walk by Kirkland followed by another RBI single from Atkins.

Taking advantage of EMCC's trio of infield errors in the game-deciding sixth inning, the Lady Eagles sent a dozen batters to the plate on the way to scoring six runs.

Atkins led the Lions' seven-hit team effort with three singles and a pair of RBIs in the opening contest.

The nightcap featured a dominating pitching effort by Hinds' Emily Vicknair in addition to Lopera's two-homer performance. Lopera's two-run home run in the second inning was followed by her three-run blast a frame later off EMCC starting pitcher Morgan Mills to give Vicknair all the run support she would need.

The Lions did manage to put runners in scoring position during their first two at-bats in the second game. However, Brianna Byrd's two-out double in the first inning didn't produce anything. Gail Wisher and Irby then led off the second frame with singles and were bunted over by DeBardelaben, but they were both left stranded in scoring position.

After getting out of the second-inning jam, Vicknair went on to face the minimum nine EMCC batters over the next three innings to finish off the run-rule victory for the Lady Eagles.

For the Lions, Kirkland added a third-inning single in the nightcap and completed the afternoon having reached base five times in six plate appearances with a pair of singles and three opening-game walks.

Head coach Mackenzie Byrd's 8-8 EMCC Lions will be back on the road for Wednesday's (March 13) softball doubleheader against Mississippi Delta in Moorhead.