Eagles Split with No. 15 Hinds, Take Game One Behind Mitchell’s Big Swing
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 2 |
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3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 4 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 3 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | X | 9 | 12 | 4 |
RAYMOND, Miss. — Meridian Community College softball earned a hard-fought split on the road Tuesday against No. 15 Hinds, taking game one 9-4 before dropping game two by the same score in MACCC play.
With the split, the Eagles move to 19-18 overall and 5-7 in conference action, continuing to compete well against nationally ranked opponents.
Game One – Eagles Respond Early, Pull Away Late
Hinds came out strong in the opener, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead. After a scoreless second, Meridian answered in a big way.
Mollie Mitchell delivered the turning point in the third inning, blasting a three-run home run — her team-leading ninth of the season — to give the Eagles a 4-3 advantage.
Meridian continued to build momentum in the fourth inning, scoring three more runs. Alex Layfield drove in Presley Black with a single, while an error allowed Delaney Perry and Jaylin Jones to score, extending the lead to 6-3.
Hinds added a run in the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-4, but Meridian sealed the game in the seventh with three more runs to secure the 9-4 victory.
Willa Simmons earned the win in the circle, pitching six innings and allowing four runs while striking out two. Hannah Capello closed the door in the seventh, adding a strikeout in relief.
Game Two – Big Inning Swings Momentum
Game two followed a similar competitive script early on.
Hinds scored first in the opening inning, but Meridian responded in the second when Charlee Smith singled to bring home Hannah Buckley, tying the game at 1-1.
Both teams added a run in the fourth to make it 2-2 before Layfield broke the tie with a solo home run — her seventh of the season — to give Meridian a 3-2 lead.
The Eagles extended their advantage to 4-2 in the sixth inning on an RBI single from Allie Loftin, putting Meridian in position to take the sweep.
However, Hinds responded with a decisive seven-run sixth inning, turning the game around and eventually claiming the 9-4 win.
Isabella White took the loss for Meridian, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing six runs while striking out two. Capello and Chelsea Regan each appeared briefly in relief.
Head Coach Brad Grinstead was encouraged by his team's performance against a ranked opponent.
"We did a lot of good things today and played well enough to win both games," Grinstead said. "One inning got away from us, but I'm proud of how we competed on the road against a top-15 team."
Meridian will return home after a four-game road stretch to host East Mississippi on Saturday at Tommy McDonald Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m., and the games can be streamed at:
mcceagles.live/green
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