The Marion Military Lady Tigers won a walk-off 8-7 game in the nightcap to finish off a softball sweep of the No. 16 ranked East Central Community College Lady Warriors Thursday, Feb. 27, in Marion, Ala.
Marion Military won the opener 7-3.
East Central is now 6-4 overall on the season. Marion is 10-7.
East Central was cruising along with a 1-0 lead in game one until a three-run homer and a run-scoring error in the bottom of the fifth gave the Lady Tigers a 4-1 lead. Marion picked up three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to go up 7-1.
The Lady Warriors' seventh inning rally fell short. Back-to-back doubles by sophomore left fielder Olivia Houston (Northwest Rankin) and sophomore catcher Anna McNeer (Canton Academy) plated a run, and McNeer later scored on an error before Marion closed out the 7-3 win.
Sophomore shortstop Kaylee Webb (Ruston, La.) walked to lead off the game and later scored on an error for East Central's first run in the contest. Freshman second baseman Landree Amis (Newton County) had three singles for the Lady Warriors, freshman right fielder Sidney Rone (Ethel) had a single and a double, and sophomore third baseman Hannah Dufault (Hurley) had a pair of singles.
Marion took advantage of a walk, three hits, and an East Central error in the bottom of the first to quickly move in front 4-0 in game two. The Lady Tigers extended the lead to 5-0 with a single run in the bottom of the fourth.
The Lady Warriors would close the gap to 5-3 in the fifth when sophomore center fielder Parker Breland (Union) and Rone opened the inning with singles before Webb brought in both runners with a triple. McNeer then singled in Webb.
East Central tied the game in the sixth when they again opened the inning with back-to-back hits. Dufault singled and sophomore designated hitter Annabell Watkins (Leake Academy) doubled before a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly by Breland brought in two runs to tie the game at 5-5.
The Lady Warriors took the lead in dramatic fashion in the top of the sixth on a two-out triple by Dufault that scored McNeer and freshman first baseman Zharia Richardson (Harrison Central), who had both singled.
Marion would return the favor in the bottom of the inning with a two-out, two-run homer to tie the game at 7-7. The Lady Tigers then got a walked batter and a walk-off double to get the 8-7 win and the sweep'
On Saturday, Feb. 29, the Lady Warriors will play in the Hinds Community College Tournament in Brandon. East Central will play Marion again in a single game at 11 a.m. and then No. 6 ranked LSU-Eunice in a single game at 1 p.m.
East Central will play its first home games in three weeks when Coahoma visits Decatur for an MACJC doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 6. No. 18 Lansing will visit the Softball Park on campus Sunday, March 8, for two games that start at 2 p.m.