Comeback attempt falls short as EMCC Lions drop softball doubleheader at No. 11 Itawamba
Despite making up a 3-0 deficit in the opening game at 11th-ranked Itawamba, the East Mississippi Community College softball team dropped a tough 4-3 decision before being run-ruled, 9-1, in Tuesday's nightcap played at the ICC Softball Field.
FULTON – Despite making up a 3-0 deficit in the opening game at 11th-ranked Itawamba, the East Mississippi Community College softball team dropped a tough 4-3 decision before being run-ruled, 9-1, in Tuesday's nightcap played at the ICC Softball Field.
In the opening game, the home-standing Indians reached EMCC starting pitcher Zoie LaVergne for solo runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings to take the 3-0 advantage. Following Kaitlyn Bradley's run-scoring, two-out triple in the fifth, however, the visitors seemed to receive a spark on Sydney Olander's highlight-worthy catch at the centerfield wall.
Olander carried over that momentum by leading off the sixth with a single off ICC starting pitcher Katlin McDuffy. After Emily Patrick was hit by a pitch, Averi Pender drove home EMCC's first run of the contest with an RBI single. Marissa Landrum's hit then loaded the bases with no outs. Patrick was forced out at home on Molly McLeod's grounder to third, but an ICC throwing error back to third allowed Pender to scamper home. Moments later, Landrum scored the tying run on a passed ball.
Itawamba promptly responded with the go-ahead run in the bottom half of the sixth. Addie Thompson led off the inning with a double and was pinch-ran for by Taylor Thornton, who later scored on Bre Harford's one-out RBI double. A line-out double play started by Landrum at third base to end the inning seemed to again ignite EMCC's offense.
Blake Rigdon opened the seventh by greeting current MACJC Pitcher of the Week Carleigh Mills with a line drive to center that rolled to the wall. Unfortunately for EMCC, the Scooba native was caught between second and third base on an excellent relay throw from the outfield. Mills then promptly retired the next two batters on groundouts to seal the 4-3 victory for ICC.
Mills maintained Itawamba's momentum throughout the nightcap by limiting the Lions to just four hits while getting plenty of run support. In the bottom of the second, a two-out throwing error to first base by EMCC starting pitcher Valiree Blair extended the inning and paved the way for a two-run double by Lane Kennedy followed by Alex Brown's two-run homer.
The Indians extended their lead to 7-0 with three more runs in the fourth inning off EMCC relievers Madison Jacques and LaVergne. Kennedy's one-out single preceded successive run-scoring hits by Brown, Bradley and Mamie Hollenhead.
After EMCC's lone offensive bright spot of the nightcap came on Danielle Darmohray's lead-off homer in the fifth – her second of the season – Itawamba rallied with two outs in the home half of the fifth to shorten the contest. Taylor Blevins' two-out single was followed by Kennedy's RBI double and Brown's game-ending, run-scoring hit to provide the eight-run mercy rule margin and complete ICC's home doubleheader sweep.
With the visitors being limited by ICC pitching to 10 total hits on the afternoon, Olander, Landrum and Darmohray were the lone Lion players to hit safely during both games of the road twin-bill.
Falling to 17-17 overall and 12-10 within the conference, head coach Kyndall White's East Mississippi Lions will meet a second straight nationally ranked MACJC opponent on the road by traveling to fourth-ranked East Central for a 2 p.m. Friday doubleheader in Decatur.