After allowing 13 consecutive runs and absorbing a 13-2 loss to Meridian Community College in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday, East Mississippi Community College needed to turn the tables.
Enter Blayze Berry.
The sophomore out of Heritage Academy threw a three-hitter over five innings to lift EMCC to a 12-1 win and a split of the twinbill on Friday at Scaggs Field in Meridian.
EMCC reached Meridian starter JT Etheridge for two runs in the second and two more in the third before taking control with five runs in the fourth, an inning highlighted by Coby Holmes’ fifth home run, a three-run blast. Three runs in the fifth brought the run rule into play.
With EMCC putting up a dozen runs on 10 hits, Berry settled into an impressive groove after allowing a first-inning run. While facing just three batters over the minimum during his five-inning stint, the UAB signee allowed one other runner into scoring position.
Berry (3-1), out of Columbus’ Heritage Academy, threw 45 of his 65 pitches for strikes with four strikeouts and one walk to notch his third complete game.
At the plate, Ethan Medlin led the way by going 3-for-3 with three runs scored at the top of the lineup. Trey Trosclair, Holmes and Beau Bates each contributed two hits and combined for seven RBIs.
The Lions had the early advantage in the opener, scoring two first-inning runs off MCC starting pitcher Cortez Dennis. A two-out RBI single by Bates was followed by Trosclair’s run-scoring double.
But that was all the offense the visitors would be able to generate, as Dennis limited EMCC to just two more hits over the last four innings.
The Eagles scored their 13 runs with a five-run second inning followed by eight in the third. While MCC’s Dennis went the distance, the Lions went through four pitchers in as many innings. Kylan Stepter started the opening game for EMCC, while Andrew Lewis, Ian Dillon and Jackson Siler all received work out of the bullpen.
Currently tied for second place with Hinds in the MACCC standings, two games behind front-running Pearl River, the Lions (19-14, 14-6 MACCC) will be back on the road Wednesday to face Holmes at Vicksburg’s Sports Force Park.
Softball
Kirkland homer earns home split
Jenna Kirkland’s walk-off, three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning propelled East Mississippi Community College to an 8-5 win over Meridian Community College and a split of Friday’s doubleheader in Scooba.
Meridian posted a 16-10 victory in the opener.
The back-and-forth nightcap began with the Lions taking an early 2-0 lead on Celeste Study’s two-out, run-scoring double in the first and Maggie Meadows’ RBI single in the third.
After Meridian knotted the score at 2-2 with two runs in the third, EMCC reclaimed the lead at 3-2 in the home half. Each team scored another run before the visitors took their only lead (5-4) on Sydney Sizemore’s two-out, two-run homer off Study in the fifth inning.
Following Kirkland’s leadoff single in the sixth and consecutive one-out hits by Study and Carley Martin to load the bases, Kaitlynn Stroud’s run-scoring ground out tied the game at 5-5 heading into the dramatic seventh inning.
After Study set the Eagles down in order for the second straight inning, Meleah Pogue got things started in the home half of the seventh with a one-out double. Meadows then walked to set the stage for Kirkland’s game-winning blast off MCC reliever Kelly Brady.
Kirkland’s second home run of the season capped a 3-for-4 outing with four RBIs and three runs scored. Martin, a freshman second baseman from Columbus’ Heritage Academy, went 6 for 8 in the doubleheader.
Study, Pogue and Aislynn Cochran added two hits apiece to contribute to the Lions’ 13-hit effort.
In the circle, Study picked up her second complete-game win of the week by limiting Meridian to four hits over seven innings. The St. Martin High School product previously picked up her first collegiate win earlier in the week with a 6-1 road victory over Coahoma.
In the opening game, Meridian jumped out to an early 7-0 lead with three runs in the first, including a two-run homer by Maiya Joe, and four in the second off EMCC starting pitcher Laken Firth.
After getting on the board in the second inning, the Lions cut MCC’s lead to 7-5 in their next at-bat with two-out, run-producing hits by Study, Stroud and Abby Stephens.
The Eagles padded their lead to 9-5 with two runs in the top of the fourth on Sizemore’s first home run of the day. In the home half of the inning, the Lions countered to take their first lead of the game. Run-scoring hits by Study, Martin and Stephens helped generate five runs to give EMCC a 10-9 advantage.
Meridian promptly answered by reclaiming the lead with three runs in the fifth and four more scores the following frame off Meadows to account for the final margin.
Despite being held hitless over their final three at-bats by Brady, in relief of starting MCC pitcher Avery Byerley, the Lions cranked out a dozen hits over the first four innings of the opener. Martin led the way with her first of two 3-for-4 hitting efforts on the day. Study, Stroud and Stephens added two hits.
EMCC (7-32, 3-17 MACCC) will continue a weeklong homestand by playing Holmes at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Scooba.
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