Marion, AL. – The MMI Tigers split a home doubleheader against the Cougars of Lawson State Community College yesterday afternoon.  Marion is now 21-13 overall, 9-5 in ACCC North play.  They are scheduled to play at Lawson State CC Saturday afternoon to complete the four-game series, weather permitting.

MMI 2 LSCC 3

MMI plated the game's first two runs in the fourth inning as Camden Matthews led off with a single up the middle.  Luca Maberry walked.  After John Tunnell reached first on a fielder's choice, Major Paracca walked to load the bases.  Skyler Smith reached on an infield error, scoring a run.  With the bases still loaded Braeden Brown hit a sac fly to bring in the Tiger's second run.

Lawson State CC added a run in the top of the fifth inning and then two more in the seventh inning to take a 3-2 lead, and eventual win.

Jacob Marshall started for Marion on the mound and was relieved in the fifth inning by Gavin Chandler. Luke Fondren also saw action in the fifth inning and finished the game for the Tigers.

MMI 7 LSCC 4

Matthew Casey took to the mound for MMI in game two and worked into the fifth inning when Braeden Brown transitioned from second base to the mound.  Nicholas Copen closed out the game in the seventh inning.

Marion took an early 5-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as Nicholas Copen led off with a base hit through the five-six hole.  John Tunnell was hit by a pitch and Major Paracca singled out of the reach of the third baseman to load the bases.  Ryan Barger earned an RBI walk and Lawson State changed pitchers.  With one out in the inning, Jack Beck singled to score a run and Mason Green hit a sac fly to score the third run of the inning.  Camden Matthews singled to score another run; Nicholas Purvis followed with a single to shallow right field to plate the fifth run.

The Cougars remained scoreless until the fifth inning when they scored on a solo homerun.  They added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning but the Tigers matched that run production in their turn at the plate. Green singled to left field and Jake Smithson walked.  After the runners each advanced a base a single off the bat of Purvis scored both runs.

LSCC added another run in the seventh inning but Copen got the final out of the game on a strikeout to get the victory.