Lions gain much-needed sweep

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
April 24, 2003
SCOOBA East Mississippi Community College sliced through oppressive heat to come up with a sweep in its Central Division baseball match-up on Wednesday.
The Lions (16-25, 6-8 Central) out slugged the Hinds Community College Eagles (14-29, 2-12 Central) in the opening game of the double-header for a 14-8 win, and the home squad at Gerald Poole Field reigned supreme on the pitching mound to take the second game 4-0.
EMCC game-two starter Andrew Pylate virtually flew through the night capper on automatic.
The freshman right-hander struck out nine Eagles on his way to a one-hit, complete-game victory.
The Lions' defense also shined behind the game-two hurler and for the maturity of game one.
EMCC committed back-to-back errors in the second inning of game one, and the defense miss played another ball again in the third inning to give Hinds two runs.
But after the two innings of three defensive miscues the Lions sailed through most of the double-header without a blemish.
EMCC's only fielding flaw came in the seventh inning when shortstop Matt Minchew couldn't play a sharply hit ground ball to the middle of the field cleanly.
Minchew attempted to make the throw at first base, but the toss sailed high on the sophomore infielder. Lions first baseman Lance Martin jumped to catch the errand throw to hold the runner on first.
Martin's leaping catch was not his first defensive gem of the contest.
The freshman first baseman saved Pylate's bid at a no hitter in the third inning with a diving catch to his right just off the first-base line in the third inning.
While the second game was filled with defensive gems and picture-perfect pitching, the opener of the double-header was fueled by high-octaine offense befitting the mid-afternoon temperatures.
The Lions tallied 15 hits over the first seven innings of the double dip, 12 of which were singles sprayed across right, center and left field.
EMCC blasted its way to six runs on three hits and two Hinds' errors to break five-run tie in the fourth inning for a commanding 11-5 lead.
Lions designated hitter Rod Williams highlighted the fourth inning rally with a two-run double, and third baseman Drew Powell, who went 4-for-5 in the first game, notched a one-run single.
EMCC scored three runs on the two Hinds' errors in the fourth.
Martin tacked on another three runs in the fifth inning smashing his fourth home run of the year over the left-field fence for a 14-5 advantage.
Andrew Lilly picked up the game-one win allowing eight runs, five earned, on nine hits, with five strike outs, in 6 1/3 innings of work.
Martin went 6-for-7 with five RBIs in the double-header, and Powell went 5-for-8 for the Lions.
EMCC concludes the regular season against East Central Community College at 2 p.m. Saturday at home.