DECATUR — East Central Community College completed a three-game sweep of South Arkansas College over the weekend, claiming wins of 15-12 and 2-0 on Friday before finishing the series with a 20-14 victory at noon Saturday.
The Warriors showcased both offensive firepower and key pitching performances in the sweep, outscoring South Arkansas 37-26 over the three-game stretch.
With the sweep, the Warriors improved to 6-3 overall and pushed their season run total to 121 through nine games — the second-highest mark in the NJCAA.
Game 1: East Central 15, South Arkansas 12 (Friday)
South Arkansas struck first in Friday's opener, plating three runs in the first inning and adding three more in the sixth. The visitors appeared in control through six innings before East Central delivered the decisive blow.
Trailing 6-0, the Warriors erupted for 10 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to flip the game in their favor. The rally featured timely hitting throughout the lineup and aggressive baserunning that shifted the momentum permanently.
Briceton Johnson led the offensive effort with two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored. Mason Hickman added two hits and drove in two runs, while Xavier Myles also collected two RBIs. Jacob Wooten chipped in with two hits and three RBIs as East Central finished with 14 hits in the contest.
Cade Morrow earned the win in relief, providing stability out of the bullpen during a back-and-forth final stretch. Landon Moore closed the door late to secure the victory.
Game 2: East Central 2, South Arkansas 0 (Friday)
The second game of the doubleheader turned into a pitcher's duel, and left-hander Jackson Clark delivered one of the Warriors' strongest outings of the young season.
Clark tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits over seven innings while striking out nine. He did not issue a walk and kept South Arkansas from mounting any sustained threat.
East Central's offense did just enough. The Warriors broke through in the fifth inning, scoring both runs of the game. Jackson White drove in both runs, finishing with two hits and a double. Hickman and Johnson each added hits as East Central totaled five in the contest.
The victory secured the Friday sweep and gave the Warriors momentum heading into Saturday's finale.
Game 3: East Central 20, South Arkansas 14 (Saturday)
Saturday's noon finale turned into an offensive showcase at the plate.
East Central wasted no time, scoring 13 runs in the first inning and adding two more in the second and three in the third to build a commanding early advantage. The Warriors finished with 19 hits and 20 runs in the victory.
Hickman had a huge afternoon, going 3-for-4 with five runs scored and two RBIs. White drove in four runs, while Myles added three RBIs. Sawyer Bates collected three hits and drove in three, and Ryan Hardin contributed two RBIs. Wooten homered and drove in two runs as part of the balanced attack.
Trae Winn picked up the win on the mound, working 2 2/3 innings. The Warriors utilized multiple arms throughout the game to navigate South Arkansas' late offensive push.
South Arkansas scored six runs in the seventh inning, but East Central maintained control to complete the sweep.
With the three victories, the Warriors continued to build momentum early in the season, combining explosive offense with strong performances on the mound to protect their home field and secure the weekend sweep.