EMCC Lions gain split with mother nature

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
March 6, 2003
SCOOBA The East Mississippi Community College baseball team won the first game of a double-header against the Jones County Junior College Bobcats, and mother nature took the second game on Wednesday at Gerald Poole Field.
The Lions (7-6) notched a 4-1 win over the Bobcats (2-6) in the opening seven-inning game, but the two squads were unable to play the back end of the double-header due to rain and lighting.
EMCC road the crest of a three-run first inning and solid defense to record its fourth straight win.
The Lions tallied three runs on four hits in the bottom half of the opening inning, with two outs.
EMCC catcher Justin McMullan started the two-out rally, with the Lions trailing the Bobcats 1-0, hitting an infield single.
Lions third baseman Drew Powell followed with a single of his own up the middle of the infield to put runners on first and third base.
EMCC designated hitter Rod Williams drove in McMullan and Powell hitting a single to deep right field for a 2-1 advantage.
Lions second baseman Dusty Snider smacked a single to right field in the team's next at bat to bring home Williams for a 3-1 lead.
Boyd, who picked up the win throwing a complete game, struggled in the top of the first against the Bobcats.
The EMCC right hander gave up a lead-off single to JCJC second baseman Nick Chatham, and the Bobcats put runners on the corners following an infield error in their second at bat.
JCJC right fielder Donnie Dearman brought home the first run of the game hitting a single to right field to bring Chatham home.
But JCJC couldn't capitalize with runners on first and second base to increase its opening-inning, one-run lead.
Bobcats first baseman Jonathan Robertson lined out to Snider, and the Lions second baseman doubled off JCJC center fielder Kelley Rounsaville at second.
Dearman was caught attempting to steal second during JCJC's next at bat to end the inning.
Boyd would flirt with trouble for the rest of the game, but the sophomore pitcher and the Lions' defense held the Bobcats at bay.
JCJC eight runners on the base path after the first inning.
The Bobcats loaded the bases with two outs in the second inning, but Boyd escaped the tight situation throwing out Chatham at first base, after the Bobcats second baseman tried to bunt.
EMCC's fielders helped out the pitcher turning two double plays, one in the fourth inning and one to end the game in the top of the seventh.
Boyd (1-2) allowed just one run, while scattering nine hits and recording six strike outs.
The Columbus native didn't issue a walk over seven innings.
JCJC starting pitcher Ty Lawson (0-2) took the loss allowing four runs on nine hits, with two strike outs and two walks.
Lawson was able to hold EMCC to just one run after the first inning on five hits.
The Lions tacked on a insurance run in the third inning off a RBI single by Powell to bring in McMullan, who led off the inning drawing a walk.
Powell went 2-for-3 at the plate for EMCC, with one RBI, and Williams went 1-for-3, with two RBIs.
Dearman went 1-for-4 for JCJC, with one RBI, and Chatham was 2-for-4 in the lead off spot, with two singles.
The Lions defeated Copiah-Lincoln Community College last Saturday, and they won two games against John Woods Community College from Quincy, Ill., last Saturday and Sunday.
EMCC continues its season against Delgado in a double-header starting at 1 p.m. today at home, weather permitting.