Mustangs' Bats Hot in Season-Opening Doubleheader Sweep

Mustangs Bats Hot in Season-Opening Doubleheader Sweep

The second season of Northeast Alabama Community College softball is off to a 2-0 start.

The Mustangs combined for 22 runs and 28 hits during a doubleheader sweep of Marion Military Institute Thursday in Marion.
NACC won the opener 10-0 in five innings before securing the sweep with a 12-4 Game 2 victory.

The Mustangs used a five-run second inning to take control of the opener before adding two runs in the third, one in the fourth and two in the fifth.

Six different NACC players had hits during the win, led by freshman Lorelai Sullivan's 3-for-3 performance that included a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored.

Freshman Marti McCluskey also homered for the Mustangs while finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Sophomore Kiley Weston went 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored, sophomore Francesca Lumpp went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a run scored and sophomore Chloe Hatch had two hits while freshman Austin McNeece singled and drove in a run via a sacrifice fly. Sophomore Emma Hindman drew a pair of walks and scored two runs while freshman Morgan Perkins scored a run.

The run support was more than enough for freshman pitcher Addison Edwards, who pitched a one-hit shutout for the Mustangs while recording 13 strikeouts and issuing no walks over five innings pitched. She faced only one batter over the minimum.

NACC continued to swing the bats well in Game 2, totaling 16 hits. The game was tied 3-all after one inning, but the Mustangs scored four runs in the second, two in the third, and one each in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
McNeece and sophomore Emmorie Burke led the Mustangs' effort at the plate with Burke going 3-for-5 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored and McNeece going 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

Weston closed 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored, McCluskey was 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, an RBI and a run scored and Hatch had two hits, a walk and three runs scored while sophomore Jada Hampton and freshmen Savannah Cantrell, Olivia Huff and Breanna Wilson had one hit each.

Sophomore Skylar Branch got the win in the pitching circle, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks while recording three strikeouts over five innings. Sophomore Kayleigh Warnock and freshman Erin Harrelson pitched one inning each in relief.

The teams meet again Saturday as the Mustangs host MMI in their home-opening doubleheader at NACC's Nathaniel Ledbetter Stadium. First pitch for Game 1 is set for 1:05 p.m. Kayleigh Smith will sing the National Anthem and 2026 Ms. NACC Sadie Goza will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

General Admission tickets are available ($10 and Grass Area $7). Fans can purchase tickets online at https://gofan.co/app/school/AL100680 or at the gate on game day. Payments are cashless.
NACC students get in free by presenting their student ID.