EMCC Lions sweep Coahoma in advance of regular-season softball finale at East Central
The Lions of East Mississippi Community College earned their third conference doubleheader sweep of the softball season by knocking off visiting Coahoma, 8-2 and 12-0, during Thursday’s rescheduled and relocated MACCC twin bill played at the EMCC Softball Field.
SCOOBA – The Lions of East Mississippi Community College earned their third conference doubleheader sweep of the softball season by knocking off visiting Coahoma, 8-2 and 12-0, during Thursday's rescheduled and relocated MACCC twin bill played at the EMCC Softball Field.
EMCC's softball doubleheader against Coahoma was originally scheduled to be played on March 26 in Clarksdale, but was postponed and later moved to Scooba because of previous rainouts and this week's initial weather forecast.
While combining for 20 total runs on 23 hits during their pair of home wins over Coahoma, the Lions used six-run innings in each contest to record their first conference doubleheader sweep since claiming consecutive twin bills against Mississippi Delta and Holmes in mid-March.
In Thursday's opener, EMCC's first seven batters all reached base safely against Coahoma starting pitcher Madison Stringer during a six-run first frame.
The Lions added solo tallies in the second and fourth innings on run-scoring singles by Carys Goodwin and Brianna Byrd, respectively, to lengthen their lead to 8-0.
Coahoma's only scoring during the afternoon came in the fifth frame when the visitors reached EMCC starting pitcher Madelyn Cornelius for a pair of runs. The freshman out of Alcorn Central High School went 4.1 innings to pick up her first collegiate victory. Goodwin finished up in the circle for the Lions by allowing just one hit over the final 2.2 innings.
EMCC's 10-hit team effort in the opening game was led by the trio of Goodwin, Victoria Irby and Gail Wisher with two hits apiece.
The Lions continued their hot hitting by scoring in every at-bat during the five-inning, run-rule nightcap. Their 13 hits in the second contest included three home runs – two of the inside-the-park variety. After the Lions pushed across a run in the first frame, Irby's two-out, two-run double an inning later lengthened their lead to 3-0.
Irby came back the next frame and capped a six-run third inning with a two-run, inside-the-park homer off CCC starting pitcher Kaela Pangman. The Lions batted through the order with six hits in the inning to increase the margin to 9-0.
EMCC's power surge continued in the fourth inning when Karen Wisher's leadoff inside-the-park homer and team-leading seventh home run of the year was followed by Goodwin's third career long ball and first of the season. Morgan Mills' RBI single later in the inning closed out the game's scoring.
Goodwin and Karen Wisher paced EMCC's offense during the nightcap with 3-for-3 efforts at the plate. Irby posted her second 2-for-4 outing of the day while driving in four runs with her two extra-base hits.
In the circle, the Lions received a two-hit shutout performance from sophomore pitcher Lana Atkins. The Millport, Alabama native only allowed singles in the first and third innings to improve her record to 5-5 on the season with the complete-game victory.
Still in contention for possible postseason consideration, head coach Mackenzie Byrd's EMCC Lions (15-25, 7-19 MACCC) are scheduled to conclude regular-season play on the road by taking on 14th-ranked East Central on Saturday (April 27) afternoon in Decatur.