MCC takes two from East Central

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
April 10, 2003
DECATUR Meridian Community College used three big innings to sweep East Central Community College 6-0, 16-2 in an MACJC Central Division softball doubleheader Wednesday afternoon.
MCC had 23 hits in the sweep, while ECCC managed only six in the bone-chilling conditions.
The Central Division-leading Lady Eagles improved to 18-13 overall and
11-1 in league play. ECCC dropped to 10-14 and 3-7.
The Lady Warriors hung with MCC for five innings in the opener trailing by a 1-0 margin until the Lady Eagles erupted for five runs in the top of the sixth.
Gillian Loughead led off with a single, took second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Kaylora Bingham. By the time the third out was recorded, MCC had four more hits and scored four more times to take a 6-0 lead.
Amanda Stricklin and Kenya Smith had singles with Ashley Cofield driving in a pair of runs with a single. Morgan Wright, who went 3-for-3, had an RBI single with the final run coming home on a sacrifice fly by Lindsey Stamm.
Prior to the sixth, MCC's only run came when Bingham's fourth inning fly ball to deep center fell for two bases with Smith's ground out snapping a
scoreless battle.
MCC finished with 10 hits with Bingham going 2-for-4.
not going to take anything away from them. They kept us off-balance in the
beginning.
Ashlee Frazier got the win, allowing four hits, while striking out five with no walks.
Jennie Battle took the loss, giving up six runs (all earned) on 10 hits and two walks.
Faith Whitfield went 2-for-3 to lead the Lady Warriors.
In the second game, Jennifer Johnson, who sat out the opener, thawed out in time to go 3-for-4 with a three-run double to right-center with two outs in the third frame breaking a 2-2 tie and giving MCC the lead for good.
The Lady Eagles scored six runs on five hits in the third to erase a 2-0 ECCC lead. Loughead, Stricklin, and Rachel Jenkins had RBI singles in the frame.
MCC struck for 10 runs on six hits in the fourth to take a commanding 16-2 lead. The inning's big blow was a three-run homer to left field by Bingham.
Loughead and Jenkins had RBI singles in the inning with Stricklin adding an RBI double. Sheena Evans plated one run with a ground out.
ECCC got both of its runs in the first inning as Stricklin walked three and threw three wild pitches before settling down. A 1-3-2 double play prevented a bigger inning. Krystal Moore singled in Krissi Harris for the
first run. Anna Moore scored from second when the ball got loose in right field.
Stricklin got the win, allowing two runs (both earned) on two hits and three walks.
Kathryn Andricopoulos took the loss, allowing all 16 runs (all of which were earned) on 13 hits and five walks. She also hit two batters.
Wright went 2-for-3 to finish the day 5-for-6 with three runs scored. Loughead, Strickland, and Jenkins each had two hits.
Rachel Smith singled for ECCC's other hit.