Lady Tigers Earn First Home Win
MARION, AL –The Marion Military Institute Lady Tigers not only broke through for their first home win of the season, but also recorded a doubleheader sweep as they defeated Alabama Southern Community College by 9-1 and 9-3 scores here Friday afternoon.
"I knew we had it in us," a happy Coach Kristi Basso said. "We finally combined good pitching, timely hitting and alert base running. Hopefully this will give us some confidence as we move forward."
Kalynn Allen and Lauren Camacho picked up the pitching victories and the Lady Tigers slapped out 26 hits in the doubleheader. Ashley Soos, Ashley Strength and Athena Sayrie each had two hits in the opener. Rachel Gauspohl had a four-hit nightcap while Strength added three more safeties and Taylor Anderson and Sayrie each chipped in with two.
The Lady Tigers jumped in front early in the opener and never trailed thereafter. After spotting Alabama Southern a run in the first, MMI erupted for six markers in its initial at bat.
Soos and Sayrie walked and Strength was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Anderson singled in a run and another scored on Taylor Miner's infield grounder. Strength scored on the ensuing play then Gauspohl and Allen followed with run scoring doubles. Emily Tarango singled and Soos capped the rally with an RBI single.
MMI added another in the third as Sayrie singled and scored on Strength's double. The Lady Tigers ended the first game early in the sixth wth two runs. Soos and Sayrie singled and Miner drove in one run. Sayrie raced home on a throw to end the game.
Allen went six innings, scattered eight hits, walked four and fanned five in getting the win.
The Lady Tigers followed a similar pattern in the nightcap, spotting ASCC a run in the first, then posting two in the first and adding four in the third for a comfortable lead.
Soos and Strength singled to open the first and both scored on wild pitches as Miner walked. In the fourth, Sayrie singled, Miner walked and Anderson followed with a run-scoring double. Gauspohl singled, then Annelise Borg scored one on an infield grounder and another scored on an error. Tarango singled in the final run.
MMI padded its lead in the sixth as Sayrie and Strength singled to start the rally and Sayrie scored on Anderson's RBI single. Strength scored on the back end of the play. Gauspohl and Allen followed with singles, the latter plating the final marker of the game.
Lauren Camacho went six innings to pick up the win and Allen slammed the door shut in the seventh to clinch the twinbill sweep.