Marion, AL. – A walk-off single off the bat of sophomore outfielder Carly Taylor in the bottom of the seventh inning secured a doubleheader sweep for the Lady Tigers against East Central Community College.

GAME 1: MMI 9 ECCC 1

After sophomore Kinley Bolton kept ECCC off the scoreboard in the top half of the first inning, MMI added four runs to give the Lady Tigers an early 4-0 lead.  Alexandra Erwin singled over the second baseman's head and Jaqulyn Braswell bunted, but a throw to second base got Erwin out.  Karlee Pierson and Jessica Cross each singled through the five-six hole to load the bases for freshman first baseman, Avary Lumpkin.  Lumpkin's first pitch travelled over the left field fence for a grand slam.

ECCC scored their only run in the second inning,

Marion added three runs in the fourth inning when Carly Taylor singled with one out and Erwin earned a walk.  After a flyout to second base, Pierson singled to score Taylor.  Jessica Cross walked to load the bases and Lumpkin doubled to score two more runs.

With a new pitcher in the circle for ECCC, Addison Jennings reached first base on an infield error.  Caroline Wilson was inserted as a pinch hitter, and she walked; Jazmin Healy ran for Wilson.  Carly Taylor laid down a sacrifice bunt and Erwin followed with a single to score Jennings.  Braswell hit a ball deep enough in the outfield for Healy to tag and score the final run.

GAME 2: MMI 7 ECCC 6

Freshman Ashley Maddox took the circle to start game two and after a shaky start and ECCC plating four runs, she settled down and kept them scoreless the next two innings.  Kinley Bolton entered the game at the top of the fourth inning to finish game two.

MMI cut the lead in half after their first at-bat when Karlee Pierson earned a two out walk and stole second; she advanced to third on the throw down.  Jessica Cross tripled down the left field line scoring one run.  Avary Lumpkin singled to score Cross.

The Lady Tigers tied the score, 4-4, in the third inning when Pierson singled to right field and then stole second base. Cross homered to plate the tying runs. 

MMI took the lead in their next at-bat.  Jazmin Healy singled through the five-six hole.  Erwin hit a one-out single to right field, moving Healy to third.  Jaqulyn Braswell singled to score Healy.  Pierson loaded the bases with a single and a fielder's choice off the bat of Cross scored the second run of the inning.

ECCC tied the game 6-6 in the top of the sixth inning but Bolton got the ECCC batters to go down 1, 2, 3 in the top of the seventh inning.  Avary Lumpkin earned a one out walk.  Krislin Estes doubled and Caroline Wilson walked to load the bases.   With two outs sophomore Carly Taylor came up to bat and hit a single to right field, scoring the winning run.

Marion will travel to Jones College next Tuesday, February 28, for a doubleheader. Game times are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.