Marion, AL. – The MMI Lady Tigers softball team improved to 7-1, defeating the Wildcats of Bishop State Community College in a home doubleheader this afternoon.  Marion will host Itawamba Community College this Saturday, February 12, for another non-conference doubleheader.  Game one is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m.

Game One: MMI 8 BSCC 3

Marion scored five times in the second inning to take a commanding 5-0 lead in game one for freshman starter Kinley Bolton.  Jessica Morales hit a one-out home run to start the offensive attack.  Carly Taylor doubled, and Meredith Taylor walked.  Jazmin Healy singled up the middle to score C. Taylor; Healy took second on the throw home.  Nataley Whitner doubled to score M. Taylor and Healy.  Kaela Gimberg singled, moving Whitner to third.  Jessica Cross hit a two-out double to score Whitner.

Bishop State scored twice in the fourth inning to cut MMI's lead to 5-2.  The sixth inning saw the Lady Tigers plate three runs and give Bolton some breathing room.  Maris Stinchcomb walked, and Jessica Cross reached on an error.  Both runners advanced one base on a pass ball.  Erin Babineaux reached on an infield error, allowing Stinchcomb and Cross to score.  With a new pitcher in the circle for the Wildcats, Carly Taylor reached on an infield error, allowing Babineaux to reach home plate. 

Bishop State plated one more run in the top of the seventh inning before a hit to the second baseman ended the game.

Game Two: MMI 7 BSCC 4

MMI scored the first run of game two in the third inning when Nataley Whitner blasted a solo homerun over left centerfield fence.  Bishop State tied the game in the fifth inning before Marion added four runs in the bottom half of the inning.  With one out, Kaela Gimberg singled and Nataley Whitner followed with a double.  Maris Stinchcomb walked to load the bases for Jessica Morales who reached on an infield hit, scoring a run, and keeping the bases loaded for Erin Babineaux.  Babineaux walked to score a run and Jaycie Armstrong singled up the middle to bring in the final two runs.

Bishop State would not go away quietly and put together back-to-back-to-back hits to score two runs and the cut the lead to two in the top of the sixth inning.  Alexus Lambert came in for relief of starter Harleigh Anderson and surrendered one run on a wild pitch.  She struck out the next batter and a ball hit to third baseman, Kaela Gimberg, ended the Wildcats' rally.

Meredith Taylor led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a walk and head coach Jeff Benson substituted Jazmin Healy in as a pinch runner. Healy stole second and a hard-hit ball off the bat of Gimberg scored Healy.  With Gimberg advancing to third base, Whitner hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, allowing her to cross home plate for the final run of the game.

Lambert entered the pitching circle for the seventh inning and after giving up just one hit, got Bishop State's final batter to popup to Jessica Cross at second base.