April 16, 2021
The Warriors of ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ split with the Meridian Eagles on Thursday night, April 15, in an always-challenging MACCC matchup. The Warriors could not be stopped in game one as the team ripped 18 hits and plated 15 runs in a 15-7 victory. In the nightcap, a slow start put ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ in the hole. A valiant effort down the stretch plated four runs but it was not enough as the Eagles secured an 8-5 win. The split moves ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ to 20-14 overall and to 15-9 in conference play which puts the Warriors in fifth place in the latest MACCC standings.
Game One | W, 15-7
A big day at the plate for the several Warriors, including a team-leading pair of doubles and a pair of singles from (Bossier City, La.), pushed ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ to a win in game one.
Meridian struck first in the bottom of the first, but ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ got two back in the third as Larry drove in one run before eventually scoring on a passed ball. The ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ lead was short-lived as the Eagles hit back with four runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 5-2 lead.
Some solid at-bats in the fourth manufactured four runs for the Warriors and put ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ back in front, 6-5. The runs came from three RBI singles from (Taylorsville), (Silas, Ala.), and (Gulfport).
That lead grew to 10-5 in the top of the fifth as RBI singles from (Mize) and Larry drove in two runs each.
Meridian pushed in two more late in the game before a series of errors and a couple of RBIs from Larry and (Little Rock) in the top seventh plated an additional five runs for the Warriors for the 15-7 final.
(Clinton) was credited with the victory on the mound for ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ. Pee went two and a third innings, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out three, and walking zero. (Ridgeland) and (Toomsuba) entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief, while (Decatur) got the start on the bump.
Alec Sparks took the loss for MCC. He lasted three and two-thirds innings, allowing seven hits and six runs while striking out three.
Larry's four-for-five day at the dish led the Warriors while Cook, (Louisville), Harrison, (Greenville), Sharpley, and Smith all collected two hits each. ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ also took advantage of baserunners as the Warriors stole eight bags in the contest.
Game Two | L, 8-5
Scoring was not as frequent in game two as the game was still knotted at zero-all going into the bottom of the third inning in the seven-inning nightcap.
Sparked by a lead-off solo homer in the third, the Eagles added another three to take a 4-0 lead into the fourth before adding another two to push the lead to 6-0 heading to the fifth.
Cook drove in the Warriors' first run in the fifth on an RBI single that plated McCollough, but a two-run RBI single in the bottom of the frame grew MCC's lead to 8-1.
An error scored one for ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ in the sixth and an RBI double from Larry along with a hard-hit single from (Madison) scored another. Boydstun pushed in the Warriors' final run on an RBI groundout, but that was all ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ could get across.
(Semmes, Ala.) took the loss as he got the start and lasted three innings, allowing five hits and six runs while striking out four. (Noxapater), (Mantee), and (Madison) all threw in relief.
Harrison's two hits and one RBI led the team at the plate.
Up Next
The Warriors are on the road on Tuesday, April 20 as they take on the Southwest Bears in Summit. Game times are set for 3 and 6 p.m.
