MERIDIAN —      The East Mississippi Community College Lions were looking to get back in the win column Monday as they took on the Hinds Community College Eagles at Clarkdale High School. If the doubleheader was any indication, The Lions have served notice that they are going to be tough to beat this year.

    Former Clarkdale product Alex Smith went 6 for 8 in two games as EMCC blasted Hinds by a score of 10-2 in both games. Another Clarkdale Bulldog, Amber Spann, went 2-4 and Stormy Lewis, a Quitman product, went 6-6 to pace EMCC.

    "We've been hitting really well," EMCC coach Kate Neely said. "They come out and work really hard in practice and it's showing."

    EMCC wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in game one. Smith led off the inning with a single to center field. After Spann flied out, Paige Sheppard grounded out, moving Smith to second. Lewis stepped up to the plate and slapped a single to left field scoring Smith from second. EMCC led 1-0. 

    Hinds tied the game at 1 in the top of the third inning when Mallory Hall singled to left. Dominique Corona doubled to left scoring Hall. EMCC then took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning.

    Smith doubled to left field. Spann was hit by a pitch putting runners on first and second with no on out. After Sheppard grounded into a fielder's choice for the first out, Lewis singled to left field. Smith rounded third as Hinds' left fielder, Olivia Tripp, fielder the ball and threw home. In a play at home plate, Smith slid and beat the tag of catcher Tori Still to give the Lions a 2-1 lead. That brought up another Clarkdale product, Logan Bozeman. With the count sitting a two balls and one strike, Bozeman tripled to left center field scoring Spann and Lewis giving EMCC a 4-1 lead.

    EMCC kept putting pressure on Hinds in the fourth inning. EMCC catcher SHelby Whitt was hit by a pitch and was replaced by Allison Hauer. Hauer stole second base and moved to third on Smith's third hit of the game, a single, to center field. Smoth took second on the throw to third. Spann struck out and EMCC got their next run. When Spann struck out, Still threw to third to pick off Hauer, however, the ball gets past the third baseman and Hauer scored to make it 5-1.

    After the Eagles scored a run to get to within 5-2 after the top of the fifth inning, EMCC loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning. An error on the shortstop gave the Lions their sixth run of the game. Leading by four, Lion centerfielder, Haley Tutor singled scoring Charly Boswell, who at checked into the game as a pinch runner and EMCC led 7-2. Jessica Richardson hit a sacrifice fly to center and pitcher Misty Richard scored to give EMCC an 8-2 lead. The Lions added two more in the bottom of the sixth to make the final score 10-2. Misty Richard got the win for EMCC, who improved to 2-1 on the young season. Neely said she reminded her team to stay in the moment and finish.

    "I told them you have to stay focused," she said. "In this league, depending on the pitcher and the situation and the atmosphere, anything can change at anytime. You have to stay focused and not get comfortable with where yo uare in the game. We stress, no matter how bad you beat a team, you have to stay focused on the next game."

    The Lions picked up where they left off from game one in game two. The Lions scored two runs in the first ining and two more in the second inning to lead Hinds 4-0. Smith singled. After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, Lewis hit a RBI single to right scoring Smith and Spann. With runners on second and third, Clarkdale alumnus Cory Roberson singled to right center field scoring two more Lions for the 4-run lead.

    The scoring continued in the second inning as Smith singled to left. Spann hit an infield single to shortstop moving Smith to second. Smith then moved to third on the throw from the shortstop. Sheppard doubled to left center field scoring both Smith and Spann for a 6-0 lead. Lewis doubled off the left field wall to make the Lion lead 7-0. After Bozeman walked, Roberson grounded out to second base allowing the Lion's eighth run to score.

    Hinds got two runs in the top of the fourth inning but the Lions were too much. Four more runs later, the Lions led 10-2 after five innings and the game was called. Neely said everyone played a key role in the wins.

    "Our pitching staff looked good. We played some people that dont get to play just to get us ready for division play," the coach said. "We're pretty sound, two deep at every position. With the weather conditions, we wer hoping to get a few more runs and end it early but they got a few runs."

     Neely said she was proud of her team, but said the play of the Clarkdale alumni paced the Lions.

    "I've known them a long time. I played softball with Coach Roberson's oldest daughters so we've always been close in that respect," Neely said. "You always know the kids you recruit from this area come from a sound program. They're taught technique, skill and want to. They are sound, fundamentel ball players and they come through for you when you need them to.

    "We've recruited good kids. they've worked hard and it's paid off," Neely added. "Whatever their role is, starting, cheering, throwing, they do their job."

    Up next for the Lions is a huge matchup with the defending state champions, the East Central Community College Warriors on Wednesday.

    "We're ready. We told the girls that, in practice, if we've ever had a ball club that could play with this bunch, this one is it," Neely said. "Scott Hill and his staff have a really good program over there and we just have to play it one pitch at a time and see what happens."