EMCC Lions hold on for 7-6 opening-game win to secure softball split at Hinds

RAYMOND – The visiting East Mississippi Community College Lions hung on for a 7-6 opening-game win over Hinds during Saturday's MACCC softball doubleheader action played at Rene T. Warren Field. The home-standing Lady Eagles salvaged the split by claiming a 3-0 shutout win over EMCC in the nightcap.

After Hinds grabbed an early 1-0 lead on Melissa Lopera's two-out RBI double in the first inning of the opening contest, the Lions seemed to take control of the game a frame late by hitting through the lineup during a five-run inning off starting pitcher Kyleigh Forsyth. Madison Newburn and Savannah Fralix set the table for EMCC by opening the second inning with back-to-back hits. Sasha King's two-run double was followed three batters later by Brianna Byrd's three-run homer – her first of the year – to open up a 5-1 lead for the visitors.

Following a pair of scoreless frames, the Lady Eagles cut the deficit by a run with Maddie Bruner's two-out solo homer off EMCC starting pitcher Gail Wisher in the fifth inning.

That set the stage for an eventful seventh inning to decide the opening game. Leadoff singles by EMCC twin sisters Karen and Gail Wisher were rewarded when they came around to score on respective run-scoring singles by Newburn and King.

The Lions' seemingly comfortable 7-2 lead was seriously challenged in the home half of the seventh when the Lady Eagles rallied to score four runs before Gail Wisher recorded the game's final two outs on consecutive fly outs while stranding the potential tying run in scoring position.

King paced EMCC's 13-hit team effort in the opener with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate with three RBIs. Gail Wisher along with Newburn and Fralix added two hits apiece, as the Lions secured their third conference doubleheader split of the season.

EMCC's bats were silenced for the most part in the nightcap, with Hinds freshman Jazmin Robertson limiting the Lions to just four singles over the seven innings. The only inning the Lions managed to put two runners on base was the final frame. Robertson preserved her complete-game shutout by stranding Byrd and Raylea Atkinson after getting pinch-hitter Fralix to fly out deep to center field and then recording the final out on a ground ball.

Gail Wisher, King, Atkinson and Victoria Irby all had singles for EMCC's four hits of the second game.

The only run support Hinds' Robertson needed in the nightcap came on Anna Leigh Ashley's two-run single off EMCC starting pitcher Sara Frances Ramsay in the opening frame. The Lady Eagles added an unearned insurance run in the sixth inning on Allie Reich's sacrifice fly.

Head coach Mackenzie Byrd's EMCC Lions (7-15, 3-7 MACCC) continue conference play on the road by traveling to Clarksdale to meet Coahoma Community College in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday (March 25).