EMCC Lady Lions earn road softball doubleheader split with Meridian

MERIDIAN — The East Mississippi Community College softball team earned its third road doubleheader split of the conference season by claiming a 9-1 run-rule win over Meridian during the first game of Monday's MACCC twin bill played at Tommy McDonald Field.  The home-standing Lady Eagles returned the favor with an 11-2 run-rule victory over EMCC in the nightcap.

In the opening contest, the visiting Lady Lions scored runs in all five innings beginning with three runs in the first off MCC starting pitcher Bailey McClellan.  Jenna Coker's two-out, two-run single capped EMCC's three-run opening frame.

Following run-scoring doubles by Allison Brown in the second and Rylee Bourland an inning later, the Lady Lions' 6-0 lead through three innings was extended to 8-0 with two more runs in the top of the fourth.  

With Bourland in the circle for EMCC, Meridian's lone run in the opener came on Chenai Keyes' leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.  The visitors then quickly countered with an unearned run in their next at-bat to get back to the run-rule margin of eight runs through five innings.

Bourland scattered five hits, while striking out five and not issuing a walk, through five innings to improve her record to 4-8 with the complete-game victory.

Kamryn Moore led East Mississippi's eight-hit team effort with a pair of singles in the opener.

Meridian duplicated EMCC's first-game feat by scoring in every inning of the shortened nightcap.    

After the Lady Lions grabbed an initial 2-0 lead by taking advantage of three walks and an infield error in the first inning, the Lady Eagles promptly answered in the bottom half of the frame with Sydney Sizemore's two-run homer off EMCC's Coker.

With MCC starting pitcher Avery Byerley shutting out the visitors the rest of the way, the Lady Eagles added two runs in the second, three more in the third and a solo tally in the fourth to increase their lead to 8-2.  Meridian's deciding blow in the run-rule nightcap came on Carolyn Robertson's walk-off, three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the fifth off EMCC reliever Taylor Watkins.

Coach Austin McNair's EMCC Lady Lions, 5-23 overall and 5-17 in conference play, are scheduled to play host to the Lady Trojans of Mississippi Delta Community College on Thursday (April 15) in a home doubleheader postponed one day due to Wednesday's rain forecast.  First pitch for Thursday's EMCC-Delta twin bill is set for 1 p.m. at the EMCC Softball Field.