EMCC Lady Lions score 29 runs in 15-4, 14-13 doubleheader sweep at Hinds to open softball season

RAYMOND – The Lady Lions of East Mississippi Community College opened the Kyndall White era of EMCC softball with a bang by scoring 29 runs in a 15-4, 14-13 doubleheader sweep of Hinds Community College Friday afternoon at Rene Warren Field.

In both games of the twin bill, the Lady Lions had to recover from early deficits.  In the opener, EMCC trailed 4-1 after five innings before exploding for 14 runs in the sixth on the strength of three home runs.  The Lady Lions sent 20 batters to the plate, with nine base hits, in their 14-run sixth inning.

"The girls did a great job of playing the entire game and not giving up throughout the day," White said following her EMCC coaching debut.  "It's a great start to the season, but we still have work to do."

Sophomore outfielder Amber Spann got the fireworks started with a game-tying, three-run homer – the second of her EMCC career.  Freshman Jade Albritton made it back-to-back blasts with a solo homer, while fellow freshman Halie Green, of Lafayette, La., clubbed a grand slam later in the frame.    

Spann and her former Clarkdale High School teammate, freshman catcher Abby Roberts, collected three hits apiece during both games of the doubleheader.  Albritton and Green added two hits each in the opening-game victory.

In the nightcap, EMCC spotted the home-standing Lady Eagles a 7-0 lead after the first inning.  The Lady Lions responded with seven runs of their own in the second before adding three more scores in the third and fourth frames.  After Hinds pulled to within one run late in the contest, the game was called after the sixth inning due to darkness. 

Sophomore Haley Tutor, of Columbus' New Hope High School, had two hits and two runs scored in the nightcap.  Albritton, who helped lead Wayne County High School to three straight Class 5A state softball championships, smacked another solo home run in the second game.

In the circle, the winning decisions went to Louisiana natives Green and Amelia LaVergne.  LaVergne, a sophomore from Rayne's Notre Dame High School, picked up her first collegiate victory in relief of freshman Kendra Wilson in the opener.  Green, who helped pace Teurlings Catholic High School to last year's Class 4A state softball title in Louisiana, earned the Game 2 win in relief of starter Tori Seymour.

The EMCC Lady Lions now prepare for a week-long softball home stand against three more MACJC South Division foes, beginning with Tuesday's 1 p.m. doubleheader against Copiah-Lincoln Community College.  The Lady Lions will then welcome Pearl River Community College for Friday's 3 p.m. twin bill at the EMCC Softball Field.  In a rematch 3 p.m. doubleheader, Hinds comes to the Scooba campus on Monday, Feb. 18.