Mustangs off to 6-0 start after sweeping Central Alabama

The Northeast Alabama softball team will carry an undefeated record into the upcoming Mustang Invitational.

NACC (6-0) went to Alexander City Tuesday and came home with a doubleheader sweep of Central Alabama Community College, the 15th-ranked team in the National Junior College Athletic Association's Division II rankings.

The Mustangs, who compete in the NJCAA's Division I level, won the opener 8-0 before winning the second game 8-3.

Reigning Alabama Community College Conference DI Pitcher of the Week Addie Edwards delivered another gem in the pitching circle for the Mustangs. The Chatsworth, Georgia native improved to 3-0 on the season after tossing a complete-game three-hit shutout in Game 1. Edwards recorded five strikeouts, pushing the freshman's season total to 22 through 16 innings pitched. Edwards has yet to allow a run or issue a walk this season.

At the plate, sophomore Francesca Lumpp and freshman Lorelai Sullivan hit two-run homers for NACC while finishing 3-for-3 with three RBIs and 2-for-3 with two RBIs, respectively. Freshman Breanna Wilson contributed an RBI double, sophomore Kiley Weston totaled two hits and two stolen bases and freshman Olivia Acuff registered two hits for the Mustangs while freshman Marti McCluskey doubled and walked, sophomore Sierra Walding singled and freshman Morgan Perkins drove in a run.

Game 2 saw three Mustangs pitchers combine to keep Central Alabama batters in check while NACC hitters produced in the early innings and then again late.

NACC built a 3-0 lead after two innings and was in front 4-3 through five innings before scoring a run in the sixth and three more in the seventh to secure the win.

Weston finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, including a seventh-inning RBI double, and had three RBIs in all for NACC while freshman Austin McNeece went 3-for-4 with an RBI single. Sophomore Chloe Hatch had a two-run double in the seventh for the Mustangs as part of her two-hit, one-walk performance in which she scored four runs. NACC also got a solo home run from McCluskey, an RBI single from Acuff and a single and a stolen base from Perkins.

Meanwhile, NACC sophomore pitcher Skylar Branch improved to 2-0 in the circle after pitching 4 1/3 innings and allowing only two runs on two hits. Freshman Brielee Weber pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief and freshman Erin Harrelson pitched the final two innings, not allowing a run while earning the save.

NACC returns to action Thursday and Friday when it hosts the Mustang Invitational at Nathaniel Ledbetter Stadium. The tournament features NACC, Georgia Highlands and nationally-ranked McLennan Community College of Waco, Texas.

Here is the schedule for the event:

THURSDAY

› NACC vs. McLennan, 1 p.m.

› NACC vs. McLennan, 3 p.m.

FRIDAY

› McLennan vs. Georgia Highlands, 1 p.m.

› NACC vs. Georgia Highlands, 3 p.m.

› NACC vs. McLennan, 5 p.m.

Tickets are available online:

https://gofan.co/app/school/AL100680