Softball Earns a Split in Four Game Weekend Series
Perkinston, MS. - After a lopsided loss in game one at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, the MMI Lady Tigers rallied to earn a split in their four games this weekend to start the 2019 season 2-2.
Game 1: MMI 0 MGCCC 15
The only highlight in the first game of the four game weekend series at MGCCC was doubles by Morgan Gaither and Madison Bubel.
Game 2: MMI 2 MGCCC 0
The Lady Tigers scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning, and sophomore Alex Reed (1-0) pitched a shutout to earn MMI their first spring win. Reed pitched all eight innings, giving up three hits and one walk while striking out three Bulldog batters.
Morgan Gaither went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Freshman Madison Bubel recorded the only other MMI hit; she also scored a run. Taylor Mitchell also crossed the plate for Marion.
Game 3: MMI 2 MGCCC 0
Sophomore Lexi McCray (1-1) earned her first win of the spring when the Lady Tigers blanked the MGCCC Bulldogs 2-0 in game one of a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. McCray threw seven innings and allowed three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.
Freshman Alyssa Carrizales went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Dalton Merrill scored a run on her way to a 1-for-3 showing at the plate. Jaina Walden, Morgan Dennis, and Morgan Gaither each doubled for Marion with Walden scoring a run.
Game 4: MMI 2 MGCCC 3
Morgan Gaither put the Lady Tigers up 2-0 in the first inning with a homerun. Gaither finished going 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. MMI held a 2-1 lead into the sixth inning before the Bulldogs added two runs during their at-bat. Marion had runners in scoring position in the top half of the seventh inning but couldn't cross the plate, giving the home squad the one run victory.
Dalton Merrill went 3-for-3 with a double for Marion while Madison Bubel continued to swing a hot bat. She finished with three hits in four plate appearances; a double and one run scored. Whitney Edgecomb and Jaina Walden also recorded hits in the loss.
Alex Reed (1-1) gave up five hits and three runs, one earned, in 6.1 innings of work while striking out two batters. Lexi McCray picthed an inning in relief, giving up just one hit and a walk.
Marion will travel to Poplarville, MS this weekend for the Pearl River CC Tournament. Friday, February 8, they will open up with Baton Rouge CC at 12:00 noon.