Two More Wins for Tiger Baseball
Marion, AL. - The MMI baseball team collected two more wins Wednesday afternoon, defeating the Faulkner University JV team 4-3 and 4-1.
Game 1 - Freshman Lane Dickerson started on the mound for Marion. He worked five innings, taking the win. The Tigers took the lead in the third inning, plating three runs. Jacob Elkins earned a walk but was out at second base on a Logan Nix fielder's choice. Nix stole second and Jonah Todd walked. Zachary Neumann plated Nix in the next at-bat. An infield error caused Jackson Cofer to be safe at first and advance to second. Todd would scored Marion's second run. McGregory earned a walk and Logan Taylor hit a shot down the third base line to score Cofer.
The Eagles from Faulkner University scored one run in the top of the fourth inning but MMI returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning, keeping a three-run lead. Elkins singled and then stole second base to get into scoring position. Todd's single scored Elkins. The Eagles added a run in both the fifth and seventh innings before reliever Ryan Burkett shut down the rally. Burkett worked two innings for Marion. He gave up one hit and one run while striking out three batters.
Game 2 - Bibb County native, Brett Lightsey, took to the mound in game two of the doubleheader. He earned the win after pitching six innings and surredering just one run. James Ratliff got the save, facing the minimum three batters in the seventh inning. He struck out the Eagle's last batter to give the Tigers the 4-1 victory.
Faulkner scored first in the top of the third inning but once again the Marion bats came alive to tie the game at 1-1. Kent Jenkins was hit by a pitch and took second on an errant pick-off play at first. Jordan Smith sacrificed Jenkins to third and Mason Gilliland brought him across the plate.
Marion added three more runs in the fourth inning when Landan Sartain started off with a standup triple. Jason Cottingham followed with a base hit RBI to centerfield and took second on a throw to the plate. James Mills moved Cottingham to third on a hit to the shortstop. Cottingham scored Marion's third run on a passed ball. Jenkins had an infield hit in the next at-bat to keep the rally going and eventually scored on another passed ball.
MMI improves to 19-3-1 on the season with the two wins. The Tigers will head into ACCC North action this weekend with a four game series with Shelton State Community College. Thursday, Marion will travel to Tuscaloosa for the first two games of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Saturday, the Tigers will host the Buccaneers for the final two games; first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m.