EMCC earns doubleheader softball split against No. 11 Northeast with 4-2 nightcap win

SCOOBA – A complete-game pitching effort from Gail Wisher and clutch two-out hitting by the Lions propelled East Mississippi Community College's softball team to a 4-2 home nightcap win over 11^th-ranked Northeast Mississippi during Wednesday's MACCC doubleheader split played at the EMCC Softball Field. The visiting Tigers prevailed 17-8 in run-rule fashion during the opening game.

EMCC rebounded from its setback in the high-scoring opener by handing the Tigers just their second loss of the season while also snapping their 10-game winning streak. After scoring the third-most runs (eight) and tying for the most hits (12) allowed by Northeast's pitching staff this season in their opening-game loss to the Tigers, the Lions responded defensively in the nightcap by limiting the visitor's prolific offensive attack to just two runs on seven hits to match Northeast's lowest scoring output of the year.

The Lions' clutch hitting was evident early during the nightcap when Savannah Fralix's two-out single brought home Gail Wisher in the home half of the opening inning. A frame later, Karen Wisher came through with a key two-out RBI single after Brianna Byrd and Madison Newburn opened the second inning with back-to-back singles.

In between EMCC's consecutive one-run innings to begin the second game, Northeast had briefly taken a 2-1 lead by scoring twice in the top of the second frame on Adin Shelton's leadoff home run followed by back-to-back doubles from Amyah Hill and Sydney Bean.

In a tie game knotted at 2-2 after two innings, Gail Wisher went back to work in the circle for the Lions by holding Northeast scoreless for the remainder of the contest, including stranding the bases loaded in the third and sixth innings. The sophomore right-hander/third baseman also helped her own cause at the plate during EMCC's go-ahead fifth inning. Following Karen Wisher's one-out double, Gail drove in her twin sister with a run-scoring single. Fralix then followed with another clutch two-out RBI single to give the Lions a key second insurance run that provided the eventual winning margin.

For the game, Gail Wisher improved to 4-7 in the circle for the year by scattering seven hits and matching her season high with nine strikeouts. The Irvington, Alabama native and Alma Bryant High School product only allowed one walk in the contest on the way to posting her sixth complete game in 10 pitching starts on the season.

Offensively for EMCC in the nightcap, Fralix, Newburn and Karen Wisher all had two hits apiece to lead the Lions as they outhit Northeast, 9-7, in the second game.

The opening game of the doubleheader became out of reach early for the Lions, as Northeast scored 12 runs before EMCC could get on the board in the bottom of the third inning. The Tigers scored four runs in the opening frame and six more the following inning off Newburn and Fralix.

To their credit despite the early double-digit deficit, the home-standing Lions battled back against one of the nation's top pitchers in freshman Ramsey Montgomery. EMCC batted around during a five-run third inning that featured RBI singles from Gail Wisher, Fralix, Rachel Rommel and Byrd before culminating with four straight singles to knock Montgomery out of the game. The Mantachie High School product entered the game as the reigning MACCC Softball Pitcher of the Week after having raised her record to 14-0 with an impressive 0.61 earned run average on the year.

As Northeast continued to put runs on the board with a solo tally in the fourth and four more scores the following frame, EMCC tried diligently but unsuccessfully to keep the margin within the eight-run rule for five innings. Sophomore outfielder Victoria Irby capped a 3-for-3 individual hitting effort as well as leading EMCC's 12-hit team effort in the opener with a leadoff home run in the fourth inning and a two-run single the following frame.

Head coach Mackenzie Byrd's EMCC Lions (6-14, 2-6 MACCC) are slated to continue conference action on the road during the coming week with a Saturday doubleheader (March 22) at Hinds followed by a Tuesday twin bill (March 25) at Coahoma.