By By Adam Prestridge
The Escambia Academy softball team has its work cutout for themselves Friday in the AISA Elite 8 state tournament at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.
The No. 8-seeded Lady Cougars (10-15) take on No. 1-seeded Marengo at 10 a.m. in the first round of the double-elimination tournament.
In the teams’ first meeting this season, Marengo defeated EA by the 10-run mercy rule, 11-1.
During that region game, Marengo cranked three home runs, but Payne has been working different strategies this week.
EA 10
Sparta 0
Malori McGhee finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish to lead the Lady Cougars to a shutout over Sparta, 10-0, on senior night on their home turf April 22.
McGhee finished the game with two RBI, two runs scored and stole two bases.
Jennifer Morris (9-14) picked up the win on the mound for EA allowing just one hit and striking out 10. She also finished a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI, two stolen bases, one run scored and a walk.
Taylor Helton added two hits and three RBI for the Lady Cougars.
Jackson 6
Four base running errors, costing the Lady Cougars three runs, proved to be the difference in a 6-3 loss to Jackson on April 15.
Amber Huskey and Jackie Perkins led EA with two hits each. Huskey had one RBI and Perkins legged out a double.
Wilcox 1
Escambia Academy managed one run in the top of the seventh inning to slip past Wilcox 2-1 on April 11.
Malorie McGhee led the Lady Cougars with three hits and one RBI. Gayson Emmons, Lacie Flowers and Carlie Broughton each chipped in with one hit. Broughton scored one run.
Jennifer Morris struck out nine and allowed five hits to pick up the win on the mound.
Faith 11
Faith’s offense proved too powerful for EA April 10 as the Lady Cougars fell 11-4.
Jennifer Morris led the Lady Cougars’ offense with two hits. Jackie Perkins finished with a triple and scored one run and Amber Huskey slapped a single.
The Lady Cougars committed seven errors.
Sparta 2
The Lady Cougars had two big innings, scoring three runs in the first and five in the third, to run away with a 9-2 win over Sparta April 8.
Jackie Perkins paced EA with a double, two singles, two RBI and three stolen bases. Malorie McGhee displayed her speed and patience with five stolen bases and three walks. She added a single.
Sara Beth Davis added a single, two stolen bases and an RBI.
Jennifer Morris struck out 12 to claim the win.