April 4 , 2007

NEMCC TIGERS SWEEP ICC; IMPROVE TO 6-0 IN NORTH DIV.

BOONEVILLE, Miss.--  Shanika Randle (Houston, Miss.) went 5-for-7 with two homeruns, two doubles, and 7 RBI to lead Northeast Mississippi Community College's fast-pitch softball team to a sweep of a double-header over Itawamba Community College, 6-4 in game one and 12-6 in game two, on Wednesday, April 4.

Freshman Callie Weaver, also a Houston, Miss. native, joined Randle with a big day of her own. The Tigers' shortstop was 4-for-6 against the Lady Indians, including a solo homerun, a double, and 4 RBI.

"I was pleased with the way our kids battled," said NEMCC head coach Jody Long. "We overcame a scrappy ICC bunch. When you put these two schools together, whether its softball or chess, each team really wants to win, so we just feel fortunate to come out on top."

The first game of the double-header saw Northeast take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning thanks to solo homeruns first by Callie Weaver, and later Shanika Randle. "Those two kids, both from Houston, played together in high school, and today really set the tone with those homeruns early," a proud Jody Long said.

ICC answered in the top of the fourth, taking the lead with back-to-back RBI from Anjerlina Dancy and Cassie Tipton, as well as two Northeast errors.

The Lady Indian's lead only lasted one inning, as in the bottom of the fifth, Northeast cut the lead to 4-3 with an RBI single from Shana Andres (Floyd's Knob, IN). Two batters later, Randle delivered the final blow with her second homerun of the day, a three-run shot that put the Tigers ahead 6-4.

Northeast starting pitcher Lisa Jansen (Frankfurt, Germany) pitched a complete game giving up seven hits, two earned runs, and stiking out 13 Itawamba batters. Lane Maxey took the loss for ICC in game one.

Sierra Coltharp (New Albany) got the win for Northeast in game two. Randle and Weaver each had two RBI's for the Tigers. Northeast was led in game two by Fallon Thompson (Corinth) who was 2-for-3 with four RBI and a homerun.

With the two wins, Northeast (15-20, 6-0) remains unbeaten in division play after the first half of MACJC (Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges) North Division competition this season. Itawamba's Lady Indians fell to 4-20, 1-5.

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