Marion, AL.  The MMI softball team defeated East Mississippi CC today by scores of 11-3 and 4-3 after the Lions returned to campus for another home doubleheader.  The Lady Tigers are scheduled to be back in action Thursday, February 9 at East Central CC (Decatur, MS).

GAME 1: MMI 11 EMCC 3 (5 innings)

Marion took an early 4-0 lead after the second inning when Krislin Estes led off in the inning with a solo homerun.  Caroline Willis walked and Rebecca Fondren sacrificed her to second base.  A bloop single by Jaqulyn Braswell put two runners on base for Alexandra Erwin who hit a triple, scoring both Willis and Braswelll.  With two outs Karlee Pierson reached on an infield hit, scoring Erwin.

EMCC hit a solo homerun to start the third inning to cut the lead to 4-1.  After going scoreless in the third inning, MMI added four runs in the fourth inning.  Braswell singled and Erwin walked.  Carly Taylor was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Karlee Pierson hit a deep sac fly to score Braswell.  Jessica Cross brought in three runs with a blast over the left field fence.

EMCC scored twice in the fifth inning before Marion scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning to end the game early.  Caroline Willis doubled to start the rally.  Fondren singled, scoring Willis. Braswell was hit by a pitch and Erwin singled to score Fondren.  Carly Taylor hit a hard ground ball to third base, and everyone was safe.  With bases loaded Pierson earned a walk and allowed the winning run to cross the plate.

Sophomore Harleigh Anderson worked all five innings and earned her second win against East Mississippi CC.

GAME 2: MMI 4 EMCC 3 (8 innings)

Sophomore lefty hurler Kinley Bolton worked all eight innings for her second straight win.  The Lady Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning.  Rebecca Fondren singled and stole second base to get into scoring position for Carly Taylor who singled to the outfield, allowing Fondren to score.

EMCC scored three runs in the fifth inning, taking the 3-1 lead, before MMI tied the game at 3-3 after their turn at the plate.  Jaqulyn Braswell singled to lead off the rally.  Alexandra Erwin bunted but with no throw, reached first base safe.  Carly Taylor's single loaded the bases.  Karlee Pierson and Jessica Cross hit back-to-back sac flies, scoring two runs.

Both teams had their chances to score leading up to the bottom half of the seventh inning but with no runners crossing the plate, the game went into extra innings.  With Bolton taking the circle for the eighth inning, EMCC had runners on second and third with one out when a pop fly to first base and a strong throw by Marion's third baseman, Krislin Estes, got the Lady Tigers out of the inning.

Estes continued her clutch play as she led off with a hustle play to reach first base after the Lion's third baseman bobbled the ball; Jazmin Healy subbed as a pinch runner for Estes.  Caroline Willis bunted but another EMCC error allowed her to reach base; both runners advanced one base.  With Healy on third base, Rebecca Fondren hit a ball deep enough to right field to allow Healy to cross the plate and seal the walk-off victory.