The No. 16 ranked East Central Community College Lady Warriors collected 28 hits and scored 27 runs in picking up an MACJC softball doubleheader sweep over Mississippi Delta Saturday, April 27, at the Carl and Brenda Grubb Softball Complex in Moorhead.
The Lady Warriors won the opener 10-0 by run-rule in six innings and then took game two 17-1 in five innings. The wins clinched a spot for East Central in the 2019 MACJC State Tournament.
With the sweep, East Central moves to 25-11 overall and 18-6 in league play. The Mississippi Delta Lady Trojans fall to 8-33 overall and 4-19.
East Central has now won 11 straight games, including their last seven road games.
In game one, the Lady Warriors got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third on an RBI single from sophomore shortstop Annika Jones (Leake Academy) that scored freshman center fielder Parker Breland (Union), who had also singled.
East Central broke the game open in the top of the fifth with six runs, the big blow a two-run homer from freshman third baseman Hannah Dufault (Hurley, East Central). Jones singled in two more runs, and freshman catcher Anna McNeer (Canton Academy) also singled in two runs.
The Lady Warriors closed out the scoring with three more runs in the top of the sixth, as back-to-back doubles by freshman right fielder MaKenzie Barnett (Neshoba Central) and Breland scored one run, an RBI single by Jones scored Barnett, and freshman second baseman Kaylee Webb (Ruston, La.), who had walked, scored on a passed ball.
Jones and Breland combined for six of East Central's 12 hits in the win.
Freshman Jesalyn Jarrette (Baskin, La., Franklin Academy) pitched the first five innings in the circle to get the win, giving up just three hits and striking out three batters.
The Lady Warriors put the nightcap away early with five runs in the first, and six in each of the second and third innings.
Freshman designated hitter EmilySue Parkman had a two-run homer and former Lake teammate and fellow freshman Olivia Clay had a three-run home run in game two. Barnett, Parkman, and Clay each has two hits and three RBI in the win. McNeer and freshman first baseman Annabell Watkins (Leake Academy) each had two-run doubles. The Lady Warriors also stole six bases.
Freshman Braelyn Boykin (Mize) started the game in the circle and pitched the first three innings for the win. She held the Lady Trojans hitless in facing the minimum nine batters.
East Central will play its last two regular season doubleheaders at home. Pearl River visits the Softball Park in Decatur on Tuesday, April 30, with the first game starting at 4 p.m. Northwest visits on Thursday, May 2, with the first pitch at 2 p.m.
Most East Central home softball games can be heard on WKOZ "Cruisin" 98.3 or watched via live stream video at www.eccc.edu/eccc-media.