EMCC Lions close out 4-0 week with 9-6 and 11-5 home softball wins over Coastal Alabama-North

SCOOBA – East Mississippi Community College capped an unbeaten week of home softball action by sweeping Coastal Alabama-North, 9-6 and 11-5, during Thursday's non-conference action played at the EMCC Softball Field.

Thursday's pair of wins followed Tuesday's home sweep (11-1, 11-1) over Missouri-based Moberly Area Community College in addition to giving EMCC a season sweep over Coastal Alabama-North. Earlier in the month (Feb. 7), the Lions claimed 6-2, 7-2 road wins over the Coyotes in Monroeville, Ala.

The opening game of the doubleheader rematch in Scooba began with a combined seven-run first inning between the two teams. After Coastal Alabama-North jumped out to an initial 3-0 lead on consecutive two-out, run-scoring doubles from Alissa Holmes and Chloe Sheppard in the top of the first inning, the home-standing Lions countered with a four-run home half of the frame. The first six EMCC batters all reached base safely on the way to hitting through the lineup.

EMCC starting pitcher Allee Bennett settled down to keep the Coyotes off the scoreboard for the next four innings without surrendering a hit during that span. On offense, the Lions increased their lead to 5-3 on RaMiyah Price's two-out, RBI double in the fifth inning.

Coastal Alabama-North briefly reclaimed the lead (6-5) in its next at-bat by scoring three runs in the top of the sixth inning, highlighted by RBI doubles from Sheppard and Makinze Rabon.

With the aid of some infield miscues by the visitors, the Lions answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to move ahead 9-6. The big hit in the inning was Devin Bourgeois' go-ahead, three-run homer that hit on top of the centerfield fence before bouncing over for her third home run of the season.

EMCC's 10-hit team showing in the opening game featured two-hit efforts by Bourgeois, Savannah Fralix and Madison Newburn.

In the circle, EMCC's Bennett improved to 3-2 on the season after pitching six innings before giving way to Chaley Peterson, who earned her first collegiate save.

The nightcap was tied twice during the first half of the game before the Lions batted around during their six-run sixth inning to pull ahead for good.

The two teams exchanged solo runs over the first two innings. After the Coyotes posted consecutive two-run innings in the third and fourth frames on respective two-run hits by Destiny Holmes and Gracie Nelson to take a brief 5-1 lead, EMCC answered with a four-run fourth inning to knot the score at 5-5. Bourgeois' two-out, three-run double to centerfield capped the game-tying frame for the Lions.

With EMCC's Savannah Mitchell holding Coastal Alabama-North hitless over the last three shutout innings, the Lions exploded for six runs in the sixth on seven hits to secure the sweep. The big inning featured a three-run double by Olivia Saucier and Hanna Boleware's two-run single.

Led by Fralix's 4-for-4 effort at the plate with four singles, the Lions totaled 16 hits in the second game as six players had multiple hits.

Mitchell improved to 3-1 on the year in relief of Peterson, who pitched into the third inning after earning the start in the circle.

Head coach Mackenzie Byrd's 7-5 EMCC Lions are scheduled to close out their two-week home stand on Friday (Feb. 27) by playing host to Gadsden State Community College in a 2 p.m. doubleheader on the Scooba campus.