East Mississippi Community College is just 1-7 as the Lions make their 2011 baseball home debut today.

    However, EMCC is just one or two plays away from reversing that record as Pearl River visits for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

    “Our record isn’t what we wanted it to be, but with the exception of one game, they were all very close games, with the majority being one-run games,” EMCC first-year coach Chris Rose said. “So, it’s not like we’ve been blown off the field, even against some exceptional clubs.”

    In that 1-7 start, the Lions have lost three games by one run and three more by four runs or fewer. EMCC’s four runs in its lone win — Tuesday at Copiah-Lincoln — is the season high. Hilton Gibson hit a game-winning home run in that game, as well as adding another RBI for the Lions. Tyler Aldridge scored twice as the two are the Lions’ offensive leaders.

    “Offensively, we just need to be more productive especially at the bottom of the order,” Rose added. “Right now, it’s taking away from a really good offensive start for 2-3 guys.

    “I don’t think we’re going to be the offense that scores eight runs in an inning, but I think one here, two there, one here, two there, and you play defense and pitch, we’ll be OK. We’ve been one pitch away, throwing one ground ball away, one hit away from being a massive difference in the number of wins we’ve got so far.”

    That lack of offense has overshadowed the stellar pitching and defense the Lions have been getting. Rose is just hopeful the confidence the Lions take with them into the field can start to translate at the plate, as well.

    “We’ve thrown the ball well and we’ve played pretty well defensively, especially for this early in the year,” he said. “It’s the exact same thing that I talked about when I got the job: changing that mindset. I feel like we’re confident in the areas we’re strong in. We’re confident on defense that we’re going to make the play, and we’re confident on the mound that we’re going to throw strikes and make you really hit to beat us.

    “Offensively, we’re not as confident right now. We’re just going to have to get there. They just have to understand it doesn’t matter how they’ve hit in the past, in the previous AB — good or bad. Right now, that AB is the only one that matters and they have to be the best hitter in the world. That’s the kind of mindset we’re trying to instill right now. It’s personal. It’s you against the pitcher.”

    And when that confidence comes, so will the wins.