EMCC Lions split softball twin-bill against ranked foes at Northeast-hosted tourney

BOONEVILLE – East Mississippi Community College's softball team capped a doubleheader split against a pair of nationally ranked opponents by climbing out of a 7-0 first-inning hole to earn a 13-11 come-from-behind victory over eighth-ranked and host Northeast Mississippi during Friday's middle game of the Coach David Carnell Challenge. EMCC's Lions opened tournament action on Friday with a comeback attempt before dropping an 8-6 decision to 11^th-ranked Des Moines Area Community College at The Plex.

After host Northeast batted around during a seven-run first inning to begin the day's tripleheader action, the Lions put together a trio of four-run frames and added a crucial insurance run in the seventh inning of a contest that had nine errors between the two teams.

Back-to-back, four-run innings initially gave EMCC its first lead after four frames. Karen Wisher's two-run home run – her team-leading fourth homer of the year – highlighted the Lions' third inning that started with Victoria Irby's leadoff double. The Lions batted around the following frame to produce four more runs that put them in front, 8-7, on Gail Wisher's two-run single.

Replacing starting pitcher Lana Atkins during Northeast's opening frame, EMCC freshman Morgan Mills came on to hold the Tigers scoreless in the second and third innings before allowing solo runs in the fourth and fifth frames that put the host team back on top, 9-8.

Aided by a pair of critical Northeast errors and two hit batsmen in the sixth inning, the Lions recorded their third four-run inning of the game. Mills' leadoff double set the stage for four unearned runs in the frame that saw EMCC reclaim the lead at 12-9.

After the visitors were gifted another unearned run an inning later to make it a four-run contest, the home-standing Tigers made things interesting during their final at-bat. Following leadoff walks and two consecutive hits that plated two Northeast runs, EMCC called upon Carys Goodwin in relief of Mills in the circle with no outs and base runners at the corners. Despite allowing a walk to load the bases, Goodwin responded by striking out the side to lock up the 13-11 victory and preserve Mills' first collegiate win.

The Lions had 13 hits as a team in their Friday nightcap, highlighted by Gail Wisher's 3-for-5 outing at the plate with two runs batted in. Her twin sister, Karen, along with Jenna Kirkland and Layla Roper each had two hits apiece for EMCC in the win.

In Friday's opening game, the Lions had to play from behind during the latter half of their contest against Des Moines Area CC after playing to a 1-1 tie through the first three innings. After the Lions took an early 1-0 lead in the opening frame on Kirkland's RBI double, the Bears evened things up an inning later off EMCC starting pitcher Madelyn Cornelius.

Des Moines Area increased its lead to 8-1 with five runs in the fourth inning and two more scores two frames later. The big hits for the Bears were Mia Trewin's bases-clearing double in the fourth inning and Hilary Wilson's two-run single in the sixth.

The Lions battled back from their seven-run deficit with three tallies in the sixth and two scores in the final frame. Following Atkins' second two-run double in as many innings, DMACC pitcher Ellie Flanagan came in to retire the two EMCC batters she faced in the seventh inning to seal the Bears' 8-6 win.

Atkins and Karen Wisher led the Lions' nine-hit team effort in Friday's opener with two hits apiece.

Head coach Mackenzie Byrd's 6-6 EMCC Lions are scheduled to conclude their non-conference softball slate by playing host to NAIA member William Woods University, out of Fulton, Missouri, on Thursday (March 7) in Scooba. The doubleheader is set for a 1 p.m. start at the EMCC Softball Field. The Lions are then slated to begin MACCC softball competition with Saturday's (March 9) twin-bill at Hinds Community College in Raymond.