By By Jamie Sullivan/staff writer
Feb. 24, 2002
The Meridian Community College Lady Eagles took care of business here Saturday afternoon, defeating the Okaloosa Walton (Fla.) Community College Lady Raiders of Niceville, Fla. 9-3 in the Rush Classic at the Northeast Sports Complex.
Also on Saturday, the Lady Eagles beat Chipola 7-2 in the early game and lost 8-6 to Motlow (Tenn.) State.
Okaloosa Walton came in looking for its sixth straight win of the tournament, but Robert Eakins' Lady Eagles had other intentions.
It was the only loss of the two-day tournament for OWCC, who left as unofficial tournament champs.
The 19th-ranked Lady Eagles exploded in the first inning for three runs to take a quick 3-0 lead.
The Lady Eagles got their first run across the plate when Kaylora Bingham singled in Stephanie Dixon for a 1-0 lead. Robin Holland was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for the Lady Eagles.
The next batter, Amanda Stricklin, walked and Lindsey Stamm crossed the plate to take a 2-0 lead. Left fielder Allison Reader was hit by the pitcher, allowing MCC to get its third run of the inning. MCC combined for three runs and four hits in the inning.
The Lady Eagles allowed Nikki Reid to get on first base due to an error. However, Reid would later be picked off by MCC catcher Holland. Holland threw down to first base and Reid advanced to second, but a toss by Bingham to Dixon sent Reid back to the dugout.
MCC added two more runs to its lead in the top of the second inning, when Morgan Wright scored after Stamm was walked. Bingham hit into a fielder's choice, allowing Dreka Shumpert to score to put the Lady Eagles up 5-0. The Lady Eagles tallied three hits and two runs in the inning.
The Lady Eagles stepped up their defense in the bottom of the second inning and shut the Lady Raiders down at the plate.
The lead-off batter, Krystal Jenkins, received a walk to start the top of the third inning. Wright then singled to the outfield to advance Jenkins to second, bringing Shumpert to the plate.
Shumpert hit a rope up the middle for a two-run triple to put the Lady Eagles up 8-0.
Holland got a lead-off walk in the fourth inning and was later moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Stricklin. Reader ripped a double down the left field line to score Holland from second base. MCC led 9-0.
The Lady Raiders finally got things going in the bottom of the fourth to cut it to 9-2, then added a final run in the fifth. The game was called after the sixth inning due to the time limit.
McLean took the win for the Lady Eagles. MCC finished the tournament at 3-3, and is now 7-5 on the year.
MCC will be in action again on Tuesday, when they host East Central Community College at Northeast Softball Complex at 2:30 p.m.
Meridian 7
Chipola 2
Dixon ripped a triple and Shumpert added a double to lead the Lady Eagles to the win.
Layla Brewer had two RBIs for the Lady Eagles, while Jenkins, Bingham, Reader, and Holland had one RBI apiece.
Scoring runs in the first game for the Lady Eagles were Dixon and Stamm with two apiece. Shumpert, Bingham, and Holland crossed the plate once.
Motlow State 8
Meridian 6
Motlow State Commuinty College came from behind, to ruin MCC's chance to go 3-0 in Saturday's Rush Classic.
Bingham and Dixon left the park for home runs for the Lady Eagles. Other hitters included Holland with a double and Reader with 3 RBI's.
The Lady Eagles got two runs from Holland and Bingham, and one run from Shumpert and Dixon.