Softball Earns Four Game Sweep of LBW
The Lady Tigers swept the four-game series against Lurleen B. Wallace CC to improve to 23-9 overall, 7-1 in ACCC play.
Game 1: MMI 7 LBW 4
MMI scored six runs in the top of the third inning to take an early lead in game one on the road in Andalusia. The Saints added four runs in the bottom half of that inning to cut the lead to two runs. Marion added an insurance run in the seventh to earn the game one victory.
Ashley Maddox started in the circle for the Lady Tigers and was relieved by Jaylee Crow after 2.1 innings. Crow earned her fifth win of the season, giving up just two hits, no runs, and a walk with four strikeouts.
Jayden Kendrick went 2-for-4 with a homerun and a team high three RBI. Emily, Mackin, MMI's lead-off batter, had two hits with one being a triple.
Also collecting hits for Marion was Alexandra Erwin (1-for-3, R), Avary Lumpkin (1-for-3, 2B, R, RBI), Krislin Estes (1-for-4, R, 2RBI), and Savannah Nabors (1-for-3, HR).
Game 2: MMI 9 LBW 0
Freshman Katelyn Rhodes earned her first win from the circle, giving up four hits, no runs, and two walks with two strikeouts in four innings of work. Gracyn Clifton relieved her and allowed four hits and a walk.
Sophomore centerfielder, Alexandra Erwin, led Marion at the plate with three hits, including a double. She scored twice and swiped a base.
Karlee Pierson, Avary Lumpkin, Jayden Kendrick, Addison Jennings, Savannah Nabors, and Katie Robbins all had hits in the win.
Game 3: MMI 2 LBW 1 (8 innings)
MMI scored in their first at-bat after Alexandra Erwin and Karlee Pierson earned back-to-back walks. A fielder's choice off the bat of Avary Lumpkin scored Erwin.
Freshman Maia Harris kept the Saints from scoring until the top of the fifth inning when they scored off back-to-back-to-back singles. LBW tried to take the lead, but Emily Mackin threw out a runner at home plate from left field to end the innings; score 1-1.
Neither team could take advantage of base runners in scoring position until the bottom of the eighth inning when MMI's Lumpkin walked to lead off the at-bat. Krislin Estes sacrificed Lumpkin to second and she took third on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Katie Robbins laid down a bunt and Lumpkin scored the winning run.
Jaylee Crow took the circle at the top of the seventh inning and earned her sixth win of the season.
Game 4: MMI 10 LBW 5
LBW scored two runs in their first at-bat and the Lady Tigers tied the score in the bottom of the inning when Alexandra Erwin singled up the middle with one out. Karlee Pierson was hit by a pitch and Avary Lumpkin walked. Krislin Estes collected an RBI with a walk and Jayden Kendrick's hit back to the pitcher scored Pierson.
The Saints added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning to take their second lead of the game, but MMI added three runs in their turn at the plate. Savannah Nabors led off with a homerun over the left field fence. Erwin earned a one out walk. Pierson doubled, moving Erwin to third. Catey Thomas hit a sac fly to left field, allowing Erwin to cross the plate. Krislin Estes doubled, scoring Pierson. MMI up 5-4.
The Saints tied the game in the fifth inning with a solo homerun before Marion took the lead back with a three-run inning. Addison Jennings was hit by a pitch and took second on a wild pitch. Nabors earned a walk and Katie Robbins tripled in a pinch-hit role, scoring two runs. Erwin bunted for a hit, allowing Robbins to score.
MMI added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Estes singled to lead off their at-bat. Addison Jennings homered to left centerfield to give Marion the 10-5 lead. Jaylee Crow entered the circle in relief of Ashley Maddox in the fifth inning and earned her second win of the day, holding LBW scoreless.