By Staff
HE'S OUT! East Central's Joey Holcomb applies the tag at the plate to East Mississippi's Wade Whitaker. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
April 16, 2002
SCOOBA Three freshmen came up big for the East Mississippi Community College Lions on Monday.
The result is a trophy to put up on the mantle as the Lions took a 4-3 decision over East Central Community College in the Judge's Cup Game here at Gerald Poole Field.
Josh Snider's base-hit with two out in the bottom of the ninth was the game-winner for the Lions. The hit, which got past a diving Dee Hornsburger at shortstop, scored freshmen pinch-runner Ryan Clay with the winning run.
Snider, a West Lauderdale product, was elated to come through for his team.
Baldner, whose team has dropped several close games this season including a 1-0 loss at Mississippi Delta on Saturday, was glad his three freshmen stepped up in the clutch.
The win moves the Lions to 12-25 on the season. East Central is now 9-24 and has lost 11 straight.
East Central head coach Jake Yarborough was disappointed his team lost another tight game.
Aaron Gisler took the loss after pitching 8.1 strong innings. But he issued the one-out walk to Spencer to set up the Lions game-winning rally.
East erased a 1-0 lead with three runs in the bottom of the third. J.D. Harbour rapped a two-out single to right to score Snider who had reached on a bunt hit. Ben Mason then followed with a double to right-center scoring Wade Whitaker and Snider for a 3-1 lead.
The Warriors began their comeback in the sixth getting a single run when Lewis Bradford walked and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Nester to make it 3-2.
In the seventh, Hornsburger singled with two out. Bradford then doubled to right-center to score Horsburger tying the game at 3-3.
ECCC had a chance to take the lead in the ninth.
Hornsburger doubled with two out and Lewis hit a grounder that was good enough for an infield hit, but the throw to the plate was in time to get Hornsburger for the third out.
Clint Richards got the win in relief pitching two scoreless innings. Bill Cotton started and went five innings before being lifted.
Bradford and Hornsburger each had two hits for the Warriors. Mason had two hits and drove in two for the Lions.
East Mississippi will face Northwest on Wednesday in a North Division double-header.