DECATUR, Miss. — East Central Community College went 3-2 as the host of the Region 23 Tournament's Decatur pool before being eliminated in the tournament championship game.

East Central opened pool play May 5 with an 8-3 victory over East Mississippi Community College. Right-hander Landry Winter worked eight strong innings, striking out seven and allowing three earned runs to improve to 4-0. Designated hitter Pablo Roque led the offense, going 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. Shortstop Ryan Nelson contributed three hits and two RBIs, including a triple.

Northwest Mississippi handed East Central its first setback May 7, scoring 14 runs on 13 hits in a 14-5 decision that dropped the Warriors into the losers bracket. Northwest starter Caleb Doty worked 6.1 innings to earn the win. Trae Winn absorbed the loss for East Central, falling to 7-2 after allowing five runs in four innings. Pablo Roque and Davin Lowery homered in the defeat.

East Central bounced back with a doubleheader sweep May 8. In the opener against Itawamba Community College, Jackson Clark went eight innings, striking out 10 and allowing one earned run to improve to 8-2. Ryan Nelson homered twice and drove in two runs, while Sawyer Bates and Will Williams each contributed RBIs in the 8-1 win.

In the nightcap, East Central defeated Northwest Mississippi 11-3 in seven innings. Cade Morrow pitched six complete innings, allowing three earned runs while striking out five to improve to 5-2. Mason Hickman, Kayden Peoples, Sawyer Bates and Xavier Myles each homered in the victory.

East Central's tournament run ended in the Decatur Regional Championship on May 9, falling to Northwest Mississippi 5-8 in 10 innings. The loss cost the Warriors a chance to host No. 3 Jones College (MACCC) in the Super Regional. South McCoy earned the win in relief for Northwest, improving to 5-2 after throwing 3.1 innings and striking out five. Luke Williams took the loss for East Central, falling to 2-1. Evan Lightsey and John Whit Snopek homered for Northwest in the extra-inning defeat.

Roque was one of the standout performers throughout pool play, combining for multiple multi-hit games and providing consistent run production in the middle of the East Central lineup. Nelson also emerged as a key contributor, including his two-homer performance against Itawamba.

The Warriors will now await the announcement of the NJCAA Division II World Series bracket to see if they receive an at-large bid to the national tournament in Enid, Okla. More information will be announced once it becomes available.